In this episode, Dr. Shaw takes a look at the need to balance the essence of a child with the developing personality of a child during a child's growth and emergence into being a person. Their essence is that innocence and spirit that a young child has, the purity that enables them to be friendly and approachable and joyful about living and learning. Their personality is that socialized side of a youngster where learned behaviors can inspire caution or the holding back of true expression. Both are important ingredients for a child... you want your child to have an exuberance, yet they also need guardrails and boundaries in life for their own safety and protection and simply in order to fit in. As with so many aspects of life and child-rearing, it's all about balance.