Child Discipline

Good Behavior is the Goal

Bad behavior is the bane of all parents. 

You are certain your mother had the prayer answered: I hope you have children which are just like you.  The fact is: Children do not behave the way we feel they should without guidance, consistency and discipline. 

Look at the ways good behavior is reinforced and rewarded, children are taught empathy and compassion and bad behavior is combatted.  These are the essential elements to disciplining children without being a punative parent.

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Discipline

Discipline is a controversial subject for most parents.  Merriam Webster is partly to blame for the rift.  Webster defines discipline first as "punishment".  While that is an accurate definition, in the parenting arena it is neither the primary nor a fully operating definition. 

The obsolete definition of "instruction" has been effectively replaced and expanded to include the parental definitions of discipline:

• Training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character
• Control gained by enforcing obedience or order
• Orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior
• A rule or system of rules governing conduct or activity

"Discipline strategy" is the more common term used for discipline, in its behavior control definition.  In terms of toddlers, parents need a strategy.  Both successful and unsuccessful parents attest to the need for a system in advance of children.  In short: You need a game plan.  Punishment alone will not suffice as a discipline strategy. 

Toddlers are named such because they do not have the knowledge and ability to walk without "toddling" or stumbling.  They are not adept at self-control of their behavior, either.  Parents need to be ready to catch toddlers when they fall, physically and behaviorally.

Elementary school children benefit from discipline in the classroom environment.  Teachers cannot allow disruptive behavior, and the children are beginning to use more self-control.  Parents find this age to be the easiest when applying discipline strategies at home, even when discipline at home is different from discipline at school.

Teens, in their striking similarity to toddlers, require an altogether different type of discipline, since they do have the ability to control themselves.  As they near adulthood, some of the choices in the discipline strategy need their input to be truly effective. 

The discipline strategies which are most effective are those combining teaching, encouraging, reinforcement, consistency and, when necessary, punishment.  Teaching good behavior is far simpler than correcting bad behavior.

Working through conflicts with your children

Is time-out an effective discipline strategy for children?