Full control or let them roam?

I always like to be in full control, which can be a downfall as it's probably one of the reasons I struggle playing larger families. Maybe I'll test myself sometime and let them have free run - as said above it may make for some more interesting gameplay. :)

i play challenges so i mainly focus on the heir and simultanously on the next heir if they are already present. recently i tend to have large families so even if i wanted i cannot control them all. they tend to do pretty well on their own.

There is one thing that clashes with my OCD and that's autonomous skill gain. I am coming to terms with it, though, since it's not the game's fault that I'm (at times) a control freak.

I'm a bit of a control freak, though I didn't used to be in TS2 and TS3 - I guess I just find that Sims in TS4 are much bigger idiots who don't know what to do. It mainly became a problem with the arrival of toddlers, as every adult in the house would continuously put the toddler in a high chair, take them out, lather, rinse, repeat. That, or they'd just go play on the computer or read a random book at every second of the day when they're about to wet their pants.

I am full control. Always turn off autonomy. I can't handle being exasperated all the time by what my sims would choose to do if I didn't control them.

Usually I tend to focus on one at a time and let the others do their thing. So I basically only take full control of the sim I want to focus on in that moment and let the others roam as they please.

Earlier in my Simming days I used to be a super control freak, managing every single aspect of my Sims lives. TS4 has taught me to not micromanage so much & just let them do what they want. I try to have some balance though. Like with my 100 baby challenge....I have 6 toddlers....it gets so hectic that I just can't watch everyone. I try to have a system & work on potty & movement first so they can climb stairs on their own & use the bathroom on their own...making everyone self sufficient...but it doesn't quite work out as planned...so it's a free for all....I just let them do what they want.
But I noticed if I'm not watching too closely to my Sims like something will happen....in the 100 baby challenge...my teen was in a phase and was mortified & as soon as she aged to YA...she died. I don't know what happened. Thank goodness I was still able to count her towards the 100 baby count....but my gosh...take your eyes off for a second and your Sim could be dead....especially vampires....they love to stand in the sun and burn to death. But yeah....I try to have balance :)

Have have full autonomy on and I mostly let them do their own thing unless I need them complete work assignment, homework, build skills, work on their aspiration goals, or create some drama in their life. I play with custom aging so I tend to have enough time to work on that stuff without being to focused on it.

Full control all the way. My regular life has too much chaos for me, and my family members certainly don't like to be micro-managed. My sims will do exactly what I tell them, and things will go the way I want them to. Chaos and unforeseen events are permitted only if that is the story I am telling, and never in a totally uncontrolled way. I did an asylum challenge once and it ended up driving me nuts, I was re leaved when it was over.

I micromanage their needs and let them do what they want once they're in the green.

This way the tedious part is taken care of fast, and the interesting parts of the gameplay are autonomous.