I think that there is a fine line between disciplining and
punishing a child. I believe that discipline is something that is done for a
person, not to them. Discipline is something that is needed in every child’s
life as they are growing up and learning how to behave. I think that discipline
has a way more positive influence than punishing a child. Like I said discipline
is something done for you, not to you. For example: taking away toys, playtime,
and some occasional time outs. Although the child may think that is very cruel
and harsh, it is probably the best thing for them at the moment. I also think
that as long as a child understands what they did wrong it will help them
because they will hopefully learn from their mistakes. I do not think
punishment is the way to go when dealing with a child. In my eyes punishment
has to do with physical and mental abuse. Although they are both very bad and
can damage a child throughout their life, mental abuse is probably the worst. I
think mental abuse can scar a child for life and they will never let that
feeling go. I think some parents overstep their parental authority with their
children when something is not right in their own lives. I think things like
stress at work and financial problems are some things that can lead a parent to
overstepping their parental authority.
!!! I think you have great instincts on the difference between discipline and punishment. Discipline is all about teaching and learning. Parents have a responsibility to raise children to be competent adults, it’s a mentorship really. The primary thrust of the job is to teach these tiny people what life is all about and how to be good at it. Part of that is teaching what is correct, but it doesn’t have to entail punishment. There can be consequences, but the consequences are in the child’s best interest and help them learn.
ReplyDeleteThe kind of “consequences” I don’t mean are spanking, hitting, shaming, or guilting. Those are all abuses and it is misleading to lump them in to the same category. What can a child learn from those things, other than that they, as a person, are bad and wrong. That is profoundly different than teaching that the action was wrong. Kids internalize punishments, it’s only natural. I think that if more parents thought about it in those terms that they would shift the way they treat their kids. I think you’ve got a great shot at being an excellent parent some day.
I really like your first sentence. I think you make a great point when it comes to discipline. I have not thought of discipline in that way before. I do agree that discipline is needed in every child’s life, without discipline children would never know the difference between right and wrong or good and bad. I agree with you when it comes to punishment, it just sounds more harsh than discipline and it does not seem to have the child’s interest in mind. Great post, I think you made some great points and your post made me look at discipline in a different way.
ReplyDelete-Ashley O'Brien