Parents and Children:
Effective Discipline and Communication
One of the biggest issues for parents to resolve has been the ways in which they discipline their child. Along with these concerns, parents and child psychologists have battled to find a solution to common problems of communication between parents and children. While many styles and methods have been used to address these issues and responsibly raise a child to adulthood, many great debates of parenthood have continued through time.
How do effective parents discipline and communicate with their children? Although many specific areas can be explored, in regards to this question, we will narrowly focus on these few:
1. Forms of Discipline
2. Spank or Not to Spank?
3. Parent to Parent Communication
4. Parent to Child Communication
Forms of Discipline?
“Child discipline is one of the most important elements of successful parenting” (AllAboutParenting.org, 2002, para. 1), however, there are many different approaches and forms of punishment used by parents today. Some of the most common forms are ‘time-outs’, restriction from play or going to a friend’s house, standing in a corner and physical discipline (spanking). While not every parent will utilize any or all of these methods, there are many options to consider when looking for the most suitable or effective way to discipline a child.
In order to alter a child’s undesirable behavior or enforce set rules, it can occasionally be necessary for a parent to offer consequences. When this occurs, it is important to note that these actions should always be commensurate to the severity of the child’s actions or infraction of the rules, as well as the age of the child. “Experts say 1 minute for each year of age is ...
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...med, as it is reasonably necessary to raise their children with stability. Additionally, it is imperative that children are able to freely discuss problems with their parents and share any of their fears or doubts, and that the parents allow and promote such conversations with their children to truly be effectual in these matters as well.
References
Child-discipline-with-love.com. (2009) ). Effective communication with children. Parent Child Communication. Retrieved May 21, 2010, from http://www.child-discipline-with-love.com/effective-communication-with-children.html
KidsHealth. (2010). Disciplining your child. Ages 3 to 5.Retrieved May 14, 2010, from http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/discipline.html#
Unknown Author. (2002, Feb 26). Child Discipline – What, How, When?
Retrieved May 21, 2010, from http://www.allaboutparenting.org/child-discipline.htm
There is much controversy over the correct disciplinary actions for kids. If parents discipline their kids too little, they could turn out to be spoiled and entitled, but if they discipline them too much, the kids could become rebellious and act out more often. Experts do not have a specific answer as to which strategy is most effective when teaching a child right from wrong. Although, new studies have shown that numerous parents are very unknowledgable about how quickly their child develops, which can lead to disciplinary problems. In Belinda Luscombe’s article “Most Parents Who Spank Their Kids Say it Doesn’t Work” from June 8, 2016 Time Magazine, the author effectively uses logos for its appeal to reason, and pathos to further convey the information across as to why parents
“Fortunately, children do not need “perfect” parents. They do need mothers and fathers who will think on their feet and who will be thoughtful about what they have done. They do need parents who can be flexible, and who can use a variety of approaches to discipline.” - James L. Hymes, Jr. this quote, I can say, is physically very true. If it wasn’t my father who was rigorous to...
Holden (2002) reviewed Gershoff’s (2002) meta-analyses of eighty-eight (88) studies and noted that there were both positive and negative outcomes associated with the punishment of spanking. According to Gershoff’s (2002) analysis, the one positive outcome was immediate compliance by the child (Holden, 2002). This result was found to be consistent in five (5) studies. Immediate compliance was defined as the child complying to the parents directive within five (5) seconds. In stark contrast, there were four (4) negative outcomes. The analysis showed a negative effect on the quality of the parent child relationship, the child’s mental health, the child’s perception of being a victim of physical child abuse, and also impacted aggression in adulthood (Holden, 2002).
Finally, we need to know more about the personal resources of parents that can lessen the incidence of spanking. It is found that spanking sharply decreases as the parent ages. Despite ideological motivations, parents can and should be trained to understand alternative strategies of discipline (Day 93).
We have all encountered this situation: A small child is standing in the middle of a department store throwing a complete temper tantrum demanding a toy. His mother, exasperated threatens him with time-outs and other deprived privileges, but the stubborn child continues to kick and scream. In the "old days," a mother wouldn't think twice about marching the defiant child to the bathroom and giving him a good spanking to straighten him out, but these days, parents have to worry about someone screaming child abuse. Whether or not to spank a child has become a heated issue in today's society.
It can be said for most parents that they want their children to grow up to be successful contributing members of society. Being a parent is a difficult, yet rewarding task. But why do some types of parenting result in juvenile delinquency while others find success. There are four generally recognized parenting styles and are categorized: authoritarian, permissive, neglectful, and authoritative. This essay will break down the various styles, its type(s) of discipline and effectiveness.
Successful parenting may be judged by many different standards. Raising a child to be a respectful, mature, and independent adult requires a great deal of effort. There are several parenting styles, and not all lead a child to reaching their full potential. Overpowering sternness leads may lead to a rebellious child, while passive parenting may lead children to inept for the challenges of adulthood. Parenting requires more than teaching children submissiveness, or building of self-importance. Children learn best from a role model who is admirable. Parenting is a great opportunity to set the course of one’s entire life in the right direction.
Each parent is different; they all have different ways in parenting and disciplining their children. One’s own parenting style is usually derived from the way one was raised or the society one lives in. Parenting styles include authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive, and it is very important to know which style one falls in because it can have an effect on how one’s child grows up to be and develops. Authoritative parenting would be the better parenting style because it is in the middle of the parenting styles; it is not at the extreme ends of the spectrum. It can be very beneficial to parents to understand that how one raises their children can give them a foundation for good development for years to come.
Because the beliefs, education and cultures of people vary so much, along with the age of the child, methods of child discipline vary widely. The topic of child discipline involves a wide range of fields such as parenting, behavioural analysis, developmental psychology, social work and various religious perspectives. Advances in the understanding of parenting have provided a background of theoretical understanding and practical understanding of the effectiveness of parenting methods.
This essay will discuss whether it is thought that punishment is effective and whether it is currently thought to work, additionally it will examine the best ways to change a child’s behaviour in terms of positive and negative reinforcements. The issue of child punishment has received considerable critical attention within many cultures. Punishment towards children can be argued to be a very controversial area. It is argued that many people have been brought up with distinctive beliefs about punishments toward a child. A child’s upbringing is argued by many researchers to be key to how they will go on to treat their own children in the future. This can surely be argued to be a negative effect of physical punishment. It is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the effects of what severe punishment may have on a child. Later convictions of violence and the evidence of damaging effects on well-being, corporal punishment has on children is overwhelming. However, it is not ingrained that corporal punishment is definitely damaging. There is also sufficient evidence to corporal punishment being an effective form of discipline, if used appropriately. It is thought that corporal punishment helps parents retain control over their children’s behaviour. This essay will consider the various forms of punishment, such as physical punishments and whether they are considered to work. This is essay will also consider effective ways of changing a child’s behaviour including the use of classical and operant conditioning and studies that support the theories and how they can be applied to real life. Classical conditioning for example uses learning through association, memory prompts the person to associate an object/ sound to a certain behaviour. ...
Disciplining a child is the responsibility of the parent. There are many ways to discipline a child. A child could be spanked, yelled at, ridiculed, punished, and grounded. They could also be verbally abused as a mode to be disciplined. It is up to the parents to choose how they want to discipline their child. Major influences on how to discipline a child comes from the media, friends, elders, and even books. Most parents choose their method of discipline based on how they were raised as a child. In most cases, it all depends on the ethnicity and culture you were born into. According to Child Rearing Practices in Different Cultures, some cultures believe the father should be the sole disciplinarian, others believe that the role should be shared equally between the mother and father (Everydaylife.com). The methods of discipline may vary slightly with parents of different ethnicities, but ultimately they are similar in the fashion of disciplining the child to teach them right from wrong.
Parenthood is a huge factor in any child’s life, If you were to ask me, a parent decides who we are without either the child or the adult knowing it. The parent’s role also requires discipline, and this is where things get rough in parenting, as so I’ve been told. When the child is disciplined enough and in the right way, they are willing to pass this wisdom on to their children in the future. But when a child is discipl...
As children grow up, they’re more than likely exposed to being disciplined in one way or another. “Surveys of parents show that 90 percent have used some form of physical punishment on their children” (Graziano 1). So therefore, we can all agree that when it comes down to being punished, parents more often than not resort to spanking their child(ren). That being said, many parents will readily agree that spanking a child should not be considered a form of child abuse. However, the question still stands: how far does the spanking have to go in order for it to be considered child abuse? Although some are convinced that there are better ways to discipline a child, there are others that maintain the idea that spanking is the best option for disciplinary action.
Corporal punishment is the physical disciplinary method used by parents, teachers, and school administrators in an effort to correct a child’s undesirable behaviors. The use of physical force is one that is often times controversial and usually evokes very strong reactions. These feelings surface, and opposing views clash, when scandals surrounding corporal punishment hit the media and heated arguments in the comments section of articles emerge. While corporal punishment occasionally makes its way into the limelight, it is a decision all parents are faced with eventually and often times daily. For example, when a toddler is sprawled out on the grocery store floor kicking, hitting, and flinging
One of the most critical aspects of raising a child is the way they are disciplined. Disciplining a child starts early in their life and how it is done sets an example for them of how to respond to undesirable behaviors. Everyone’s parenting style differs, but the majority fall into four major categories: Authoritarian, Authoritative, Neglectful, and Indulgent. Electing a parenting style is hard and in most cases, the chosen or natural parenting style is based on the effects of the parenting style the parent experienced when they were young.