Since long, it has been highly debatable weather or not punishment is the core element in maintaining discipline. Weather it improves or disrupts? It is true that no law and order, no rule and act of disciple can be maintained if there is no consequence in breaking it. But punishment for the sake is punishment is unhealthier than the wrong deed itself.

Every parent reading the article must ensure that when you are punishing your child, it is not out of frustration, not out of your own anger, depression or other issues. But it is purely and everything to do with the child and keeping his best interest at heart, only for his own betterment. Such act, is no longer a punishment, but a correction. Such punishment, if given, is a consequence, generating from that particular wrong.

But unfortunately, most of the time, our children suffer the after effects of our own mental state. The mistake we all make here, is we punish for the sake of punishing, or at times letting our own frustration out. Spilling the milk on the floor may be not that big a deal to be slapped over. The child can be told that being careless means he lost a resource, and it may mean that he can’t have chocolate milk at night because he lost it. The consequence will make him more responsible next time than being slapped.

Similarly, getting clothes dirty does not mean license to beat your child. You can also try showing him a simple YouTube video for children about microscopic germs in the dirt and see if he still does it.

If you want to correct your child, there are a hundred ways. But if you only need to punish, the choice is yours. Let your child know about consequences rather than the fear of being punished. Raise a well aware child, not the one who is driven by the fear of punishment and not by morals.