by Tammy Frost

Created on: August 15, 2009

Heart beating fast, hands shaking with anger, these are the reactions that came to me when I saw this topic. With this being a very large debatable topic, I couldn't help myself wanting to base my thoughts. As a true believer in "mind your own business", I sincerely believe that there is a time and place to step in and take charge. Parents have the right to believe that nobody should discipline their children other than themselves. On the other hand, If parents are willing to place their children in another parents or adult's supervision, the supervisor, babysitter or adult in charge should have the right to step in and discipline that parent's child when it is needed. Discipline, meaning giving the child a time-out or positive reinforcement. Corporal punishment is never recommended.

If the action that led to the discipline in question was extreme, the child should most definitely be disciplined right away. If the action was minor, the parents to the child should be notified and the child should be told or retold the rules. A consequence to the child's action should then take place by the permission of the parent(s). Parents tend to be ignorant at times on the fact that children don't always know between right and wrong and parents tend to let children's behaviors go un-noticed. Ignoring a child's extreme bad behavior, will only worsen the behavior next time.

If parents are not willing to discipline their children, then somebody needs to take charge and discipline the child for them. If children don't learn at a young age the difference between right or wrong, or if they think that it is okay to not follow rules, they will then grow up and become troubled teenagers and adults. Somebody needs to be a good role model and address bad behaviors. Learning the rules at a young age will help children in the future. They will know what road to take and what road not to take when they get older. If you are responsible for another person's child, you should discipline the child as if the child was your own. If you are a bystander in a super market, you should only step in if the behavior is extreme. Extreme, meaning if a child is physically harming another person and nobody is doing anything to stop the child. Using your firm voice, telling the child to stop the behavior is a recommended method of stepping in when a child has extreme bad behavior. If the child doesn't listen to your commands, then restraining them from the person that is getting hurt would be your next best step to take. Physical discipline, such as spanking is never recommended and it is against the law.

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