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Discipline

Child development psychologists commend positive forms of discipline in parenting
As an alternative to hitting children (see Child and Family Blog material on maltreatment), child development psychologists recommend that parents use alternative positive forms of discipline. Gain advice and insight with our articles on parenting and discipline.

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Procedural justice involves parents showing respect, neutrality, and fairness. The point is not to be lenient, but to emerge on the other side with the child’s respect so that, even when consequences are firm, the child experiences the safety and predictability of justice.

Constructive discipline includes actions like removing privileges, reprimanding verbally, and grounding, rather than threatening, hitting, and yelling.

Strong positive discipline features a loving and cooperative relationship between parent and child, from which compliance, good behavior, communication, trust, and continuing good relationships follow, without any need for corporal punishment. Parental warmth is key to effective discipline, according to the most-read article on the Child and Family Blog.

Positive forms of discipline can be taught and can be effective, though parental beliefs about the role of discipline can be resistant to objective evidence. A key requirement is to provide parents with credible alternatives to harsh discipline.

In one study, researchers found a link between African American fathers disciplining their three-year-old sons more and their sons’ better performance in math.

Discipline

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Articles 9 of 11