A quote by many thinkers from many different philosophies. It is an illusion that you can control the behaviour of others (children in this case). Educators often hope their influence might affect how children behave; however, children’s behavioural choices are beyond the reach of many educators. The same principle applies to problematic behaviour. Parents desperately look for strategies to make their child miraculously change their behaviour, often resulting in no or limited success. The more educators and parents force children to change their behaviour – using punishment, persuasion or manipulation – the more they rebel and resist. In addition, giving in to the child’s wishes does not help either: children often increasingly demand more considerable sacrifices from their caregivers in exchange for – often empty – promises. The helplessness of parents and educators only increases.