Reward Is The Best Punishment

Children will always be children and will continue to behave in an awkward way especially when they are approaching their teenage years. In the bid of trying to correct them, we may end up breaking them. This is why a lot of caution has to be employed. Experts on children psychology have advised that corporal punishment in children could have adverse effects in the long run hence, parents are advised to steer clear from administering punishment that could inflict injuries or cause emotional damage to a child.

As much as parents shouldn't fold their hands or close their eyes when a child exhibits wrong behaviour, we should also know that children are fragile.
The intention for discipline is to impact morals into a child and not to cause harm. If the purpose for punishment is not defined, it could become a pain on the health and psychology of a child. It is as a result of this that I ensure that while trying to instill discipline on my child, I try as much to keep to the rules so as not to evole the wrath of the law in the area of child abuse, knowing how much it could cause of one is apprehended on such offences.

August de Richelieu

Reward Good Behaviour

One of the easiest way to get children to be well behaved is to reward them when they do well. We observe that most parent shy away from rewarding a child who does well but would jerk up to the highest level to actively punish an erring child.

Children should be rewarded or motivated with the same level of strength employed to punish them when they do wrong. This model is the best as children who are in any environment where they are rewarded for a positive attitude always want to prove themselves as good ambassadors.

Punish In Love

Some years ago as a high school teacher, a student was brought from the United Kingdom because she called the police department on her aunt who spanked her for not doing the dishes. She was brought back to Nigeria to learn the African way of discipline. It was then I knew that punishment could land one into a big mess.

Separation
This is one method of trying to put my children in check. When a level of indiscipline or anti-social behaviour is put up, I ensure to separate them to a secluded room where he or she stays alone. During this period of seclusion, the child would learn to behave himself and steer clear of trouble when he or she is in the presence of other children. This helps the child to be calm and to reflect on his or her behaviour. This style of punishment may not work for a high level offender.

Keksopad

Withdraw Privileges
My first son came home on a Friday with loads of assignments and as fate would have it there was a steady power supply which gave him ample opportunity to watch his favourite cartoon television network while leaving his home work undone.l throughout the weekend.
On Monday morning when they were getting ready for school, he suddenly remembered that he had not attempted any of his assignments and started to fidget.
After this behaviour of his, I had to withdraw him from watching television until he's done with his homework. At other times, his lunch is withdraw or avoided from playing with his friends in the neighbourhood until all his homework is completed.

What I avoid as a parent is to involve myself in physical punishment of my wards. I know that the children could become hardened when physical punishment like flogging, hitting or spanking is employed in correcting the behaviour of a child. It could result in reducing the self-esteem of the child or even increase aggression in the child.
Punishment should commensurate the misbehaviour and must not be used as a tool to get back to the child because it could have long or short term effects on the child.