Discipline and Consequences for Children

Paying the consequences for something done wrong is difficult as a child. Being put in timeout or being grounded can be a horrible experience that feels like the end of the world to the child. Just as bad deeds have difficult consequences, good deeds have beneficial consequences. Allowing your child to learn these lessons in life is important and there are a few things that you as a parent should know to help the process.

The consequence for a bad deed as a younger child is a lot less severe than it is as an adult. A child goes to timeout, but an adult goes to jail. So it is important to establish the sense of consequence in your child at an early age. Discipline for wrong doings is a vital part of learning a lesson for a young child. Consistency in discipline is imperative to get the correct results. If you say that a certain consequence is going to happen if something isn’t done then that consequence has to happen.

Good deeds should be of a child’s own free will. Bribing a child to behave well will not encourage good behavior because if there is no expected reward, the child may decide that behaving in a certain manner is not necessary. Rewarding your child for doing good deeds is not a bribe if the good deed has already been done without having been asked.

Additionally, a child should not be disciplined for something he or she is not capable of. Keep your expectations reasonable. Helping to make the wrong things difficult to do and the right things easy will help your child in giving the proper action. For example, if you want your child to hang his or her clothes up, make sure the clothes rack is at a level where he or she can reach it. Children will generally want to do what is right to receive the praise and happiness from their parents.

When to Discipline Your Child

Children can be easily embarrassed in public and if they are behaving badly, and if you discipline your child in public, it may make the situation worse. As a parent, you need to learn how to properly handle bad behavior in public. This will help your child create the proper respect from a child to a parent.

Yelling at your child in public may bring unwanted attention to him or her. This unwanted attention can lead your child to believe that you don’t care about him or her because you embarrass your child. Or your child can continue to perform the unwanted action to gain the attention.

Creating a way to let your child know that the behavior is unacceptable quietly can get the attention of your child quicker. A facial look or a hand signal can offer the warning signal that your child may need to remind him or her to behave. The behavior can then be discussed in private and appropriate actions can be taken.

Children may also draw attention to themselves in public by throwing a temper tantrum, because they are not getting their way. Many people do not appreciate a screaming child, but as a parent, not giving in to the demands of your child will minimize public outbursts in the future. Discipline your child by taking him or her directly to the car to remove him or her from the public place, and allow your child to settle down and the appropriate discussions to take place before re-entering the public place.

Recognizing that your child is an individual that will do things wrong is important. However, it is also important to teach your child that you respect him or her and will not embarrass him or her in public. Or, that you expect respect by not being embarrassed in public by misbehavior.