Why do children often not want to do what their parents ask?

Well, I think the main reason is that children naturally want to test boundaries and assert their independence. They're figuring out their own preferences, so when parents give instructions, it can feel like their freedom is being limited. For example, I remember my cousin in Hangzhou always resisting when her mom told her to stop playing mobile games and do homework. It wasn't that she hated studying - she just wanted to decide for herself when to switch tasks. That tension between guidance and independence is pretty normal, especially with teenagers. Of course, parents usually have good reasons for their requests, but in the moment, kids often focus more on what they're being told to give up.