Limits help children to feel secure. Routines help children to know what to expect at certain times and teach them how to behave. For example, regular meal times and bedtimes help children to become accustomed to when those things happen so that they'll be hungry or sleepy at the appropriate times. Routines for bedtime, such as taking a bath, brushing teeth and hearing a bedtime story, help to prepare them for getting in bed and going to sleep. Irregular schedules keep them guessing and don't teach their bodies when to sleep and when to be awake.
Limits help keep children safe.
Most parents would agree that children should be taught not to play in the street, but other limits are appropriate as well. Parents need to know where their children are and be aware of what their children are doing. Parents need to have access to their children's rooms. As long as children are living under their parents' roof, they're accountable to them. It's important for parents to be respectful of children's belongings and of their privacy, but respect for privacy is no excuse for ignorance of children's activities.