I think a parent can be a child's friend in play, talks etc, but they need to still set rules, boundaries and have authority.

At what age? It changes. Both my sons are grown now, and both consider me a close friend. Before they left home, I was the limit-setter, but I also had a lot of fun and companionship with them.

I think when they are young that you can play with your children, but you should be the adult and the guidance for them, not their friend. Once they are adults I think you can be friends. I am very good friends with my mom now.

growing up a parents first job is being a PARENT. when they are adults, then they can be friends.. the worst parents I know (the ones who let their kids drink, smoke and act crazy) are the ones that are trying TOO hard to be "friends" with their kids..

Yes you can, but there is a line that you don't want to cross. You have to have authority and respect. If you cross that line it will go away at a young age. As a adult child they would perfer to be friends.

As a parent, you will always be that... a parent. Your child should look to you for guidance, direction, affirmation, and confidence. These go well beyond the role of friend, this is above friend. A parent can be a friend, but not every friend can be your parent. You will have a lot of friends as you grow up, but you will only have one set of parents (typically). Even in a friendship role with your children you have a parent hat that must come on at some point. Your children can find everything they seek from a friend in you, but a whole lot more, sometimes more than they want. A parent is a perfect friend, and that is more than most children are looking for. A friend shouldn't let you come to harm, but a friend will at times lead to harm... a parent will never do that. Friends come and go, parents stay. By trying to be 'one of your kids friends' you are actually taking a step down and demoting yourself, at the same time copping out of parental responsibilities. Your child expects you to do parental things, and if you drop yourself down to a simple friend role, they will seek the parent figure elsewhere. I would rather my kid sought friendship from others than seeking parental advice from others. No matter what you do, you are setting an example for your children, good or bad, it is an example. There are things a parent would do or say to a friend that they would never do or say to their child. There are boundaries that cannot be crossed. Determining what those are is the hard part.

I think a parent should be a parent. That doesn't mean that they can't be close and do things together but a parent has to remain the parent, IMO.

Parents and children can be friends, but they are parents first. Too many parents now'days want to be their kids friends and not parents, when in truth, it should be the other way around. Parents and kids can be friends in (sortof) the same way you're friends with a co worker- the job comes first.

I think they can be both, but there should be limits on the "friend" part at least until the child is more or less on his own. Parents should not be the same KIND of friend that their kids tend to hang out with.

Both "parent" and "friend" are "role concepts"... they have their place, and a parent can play both roles. Certainly a parent needs to take the role of parenting seriously -- failing to do so produces problems mentioned elsewhere here. A parent can also be a friend. The real hidden key to this question has to do with understanding how we HOLD the roles we play: a role can either be a prison for the mind ("I'm stuck in being this way and can't do otherwise") or it can be something which gives structure and form to our actions in support of some purpose to be accomplished. Someone who is "stuck" in their role has identified with it -- taken it too seriously -- and has lost the freedom of being; a freedom which is inherent to being alive and can't be squeezed down into a concept like roles. Someone who understands the value and limitations of a role can play the role whole-heartedly without being constrained by it. A parent who really knows who they are can relate to a child in a dimension which transcends both "parent" and "friend". That's the really grounded basis for all relationships, in fact.

I think you can be friends with your child but I don't think you should be your child's friend. Very often there is a a familiarity that reduces the seriousness or the authority of relationship and a parent should always be the parent first and foremost. I've seen parents be too friend friend or buddy with their kids and then loose the respect of the child when they need to discipline or set rules. To be a buddy to your child may put you too much on the same foot in their minds and lower your strength as an authority figure. But by all means be friends, be friendly, play together, just don't let eachof your positions in the family blur.