Many parents have found themselves in a dicey situation when they’ve tried to convince their child to not do something which they feel isn’t right. During such situations, they might stick to disciplining them in ways that they are most comfortable with. There’s scolding, which most parents recognize as an awful parenting practice, and then there’s proper discipline. So now the question arises, which one is better?
Have you ever noticed that some parents can never seem to raise a disciplined child? To them, yelling or hitting kids when they are misbehaving seems to be the ideal approach to tame them in the right way. What they don’t understand is that there is a big difference between shouting at a child and making them understand the mistake.
It is important that children are well-disciplined. However, as we all know, they are naturally curious and often tend to get stuck in wrong situations where they need to be taught the etiquette of behaving properly. And parents, of course, want to shield them from any pain or danger, and help them experience the good things in life. Now, keep in mind that disciplining someone isn’t always easy. Kids don’t always get the message, and parents’ patience can often be tested.
Scolding
Perhaps it is an uncomfortable truth, but it is true: Our kids can be difficult, naughty, and rude. But where does it come from? Why do our kids act like that? Is it because they’re spoiled? Are they just naturally mean? Sometimes, we can blame ourselves—after all, they are our kids, and we are in charge of them. But is scolding really the best way to discipline our kids?
The word “scolding” has negative connotations, so why would you want to encourage it? The answer, of course, is that scolding is not the best or only way for parents to get their children to behave well. It’s also a reasonable expectation from a child who has no voice and depends on their parents to make decisions to not always behave how we want them to. However, parents who ignore their children’s bad behavior will only encourage such behavior to continue. However, there is certainly a better way to discourage bad behavior and encourage better ones.
Proper Discipline
To begin with, discipline is something you live in, not something you do. It begins with how you raise your child from day one. And if it is done right, your children will grow up knowing right from wrong, and, more importantly, they’ll know how to behave when they need it, whether in grade school, middle school, high school, or college. There are various approaches to disciplining children, and as a parent, you should choose the method that feels most natural to you.
Proper discipline is one of the most important things a parent can teach their children. When your child is disciplined in the right manner, their self-worth and character will be strengthened. However, it is without a doubt that it is one of the most challenging and difficult tasks a parent can face. The rewards, however, are well worth it. Proper discipline is foundational to a child’s development. By setting up boundaries around behaviors, children can grow up into well-adjusted adults who are well-mannered, considerate, and have a strong sense of self-discipline.
Discipline, for many, can come across as negative, conjuring up images of parents yelling, hitting, and threatening their children into obedience. But discipline isn’t about punishment; it’s about teaching your children the right way to behave. Therefore, it is important to integrate proper discipline measures instead of just scolding and punishments. As a parent, doing so can help build a strong bond and trust with your children. Furthermore, children mimic patterns of behavior from the important adults in their life, as they see them as role models and don’t understand right from wrong. Therefore, if a child learns that for an adult to get what they want, they should physically or verbally threaten someone, they will believe this is the correct way to behave and will likely encourage bad, and sometimes abusive, behavior as an adult.
To summarize, proper discipline through rewards and certain punishments like time-outs, as well as conversations and explaining why it is they can’t behave that way, will encourage your child to behave well and develop into well-rounded adults.