Discipline of children
Discipline of children is a multifaceted approach aimed at teaching children the differences between right and wrong, rather than simply serving as a form of punishment. Effective discipline fosters responsibility and prepares children for interactions outside the family unit. It is crucial that discipline is administered by trusted adults—parents, caregivers, or teachers—who are perceived as fair and consistent. Various strategies can be employed, such as time-outs, positive reinforcement, and logical consequences, each tailored to a child's developmental stage. Time-outs can help younger children calm down, while positive reinforcement encourages good behavior by rewarding it. Conversely, corporal punishment methods like spanking are increasingly viewed as ineffective and potentially harmful, as they can instill fear and hinder open communication. Grounding and taking away privileges are also common disciplinary measures for older children, though these should be applied thoughtfully to avoid resentment. Ultimately, the goal of discipline is to enhance a child's self-control and understanding of acceptable behavior.
Discipline of children
Discipline of children is the process of teaching children right from wrong and a vital part of parenting. Discipline should not be a punishment but a lesson learned. When effective, discipline helps children become responsible and prepares them for life in the real world, the world outside the child's family.
Overview
People often associate discipline with punishment and control—but the goal of discipline should be about helping the child learn to differentiate between good and bad behavior. Otherwise, the child learns only that the adult does not like the behavior.
Discipline must meet specific criteria to be effective. It must be given by an adult whom the child trusts and respects, such as a parent, caregiver, or teacher. Discipline must be consistent and perceived as fair. This latter aspect is particularly true of older children and teenagers, who are more likely to rebel against discipline that is too harsh. Discipline must be developmentally appropriate. For example, a young child is more likely to respond to a time-out than being grounded for a night. Lastly, discipline must lead to better self-control. Disciplining a child for hitting should eventually lead to the child being able to control the urge to hit.
Time-Outs
A time-out is a kind of discipline that can be effective with young children, toddlers who are at least two years old, and preschoolers. During the time-out, the child must sit quietly in a predetermined location for a number of minutes, usually a minute for each year of age. The location should be safe and boring, such as in a corner of the room without access to a television and toys. Experts say that it is important to give a child who is acting out a warning before sending them to time-out. This way, the child knows the reason for the time-out if the behavior is repeated. A child should be released from time-out and allowed to rejoin the activity when they have calmed down. Some experts have questioned the effectiveness of time-outs, however, because of the emotional disconnect with others that it can cause.
Positive Reinforcement and Redirection
These types of discipline work well with toddlers. Positive reinforcement involves rewarding good behavior and, sometimes, ignoring bad behavior. Praising a child who has put away their toys is an example of positive reinforcement.
Redirection is moving the child from an inappropriate behavior to an appropriate behavior. With this type of discipline, it is important to tell the child why the behavior is inappropriate.
Spanking
Spanking—hitting a child on the buttocks with an open hand—is the most controversial type of discipline. Spanking is a kind of corporal punishment, as are hitting with a belt and paddling with an object. Research has indicated that many parents have admitted to spanking their children, in part because their parents once spanked them. These parents have typically pointed out that spanking gets a message across to a child quickly and relieves some of the parent's frustration.
However, most experts have agreed that spanking is an ineffective method of discipline. They have argued that it makes children fearful and shuts down the verbal communication that should take place during discipline. They have also pointed out that spanking teaches children that violence is okay and might lead to domestic violence on the part of the parent.
Logical Consequences
Logical consequences are directly connected to the inappropriate behavior. With this type of discipline, the discipline fits the offense. For example, if a child has been asked to put their toys away, but does not put them away, a logical consequence would be to take away the toys for a few days. Logical consequences can be especially effective with teenagers. If a teen breaks curfew, a logical consequence is that they have to stay in the next night. Positive logical consequences reinforce good behavior. If a teen comes home on time each night for a month, their curfew might be extended a bit.
Taking Away Privileges
Parents often discipline children by taking away privileges such as driving or possessing a cell phone. This type of discipline is most effective if it is not arbitrary, meaning if the child was previously aware of a consequence of a bad behavior. While the discipline does not have to be related to the behavior, it should not come out of the blue. Parents should also be careful not to take away the privilege for too long, or children may become resentful.
Grounding
Grounding is a form of taking away a privilege that is effective with older children. Children who are grounded must stay home instead of going out. Parents should not ground a child for too long a period of time, however. Grounding a teenager for a month is usually considered too long to be an effective type of discipline.
Bibliography
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Henry, Sarah. "Spanking, Grounding, and Yelling: Does Old-Fashioned Discipline Work?" BabyCenter, www.babycenter.com/child/behavior/spanking-grounding-and-yelling-does-old-fashioned-discipline‗3657191. Accessed 27 Sept. 2024.
"Positive Discipline for Young Children." Caring for Kids, Canadian Pediatric Society, Jan. 2020, caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/behavior-and-development/positive-discipline-for-young-children. Accessed 27 Sept. 2024.
Salmon, Lisa. "8 Effective Ways to Discipline Your Child without Smacking." Independent, www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/children-misbehaviour-royal-college-of-paediatrics-and-child-health-england-wales-b2530189.html. Accessed 27 Sept. 2024.
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