Introduction
Discipline is all about behavior modification in kids. Through discipline, parents get a chance to teach their children what is wrong and what is right. Raising a kid of any age comes with its own share of difficulties to the parents or guardian. Most caregivers and parents strive to ensure they raise a child that is independent, responsible and most importantly respectable. These are the three qualities each parent and guardian wishes their child to have as they grow up. Discipline can be done physically as a way of correcting inappropriate behaviors in children.
Parents who don’t like disciplining their children keep wondering what the importance of disciplining the child is. The benefits of disciplining the child can be divided into three broad categories namely;
Moral Development
Through discipline, either negative or positive, a child’s acuity on themselves is developed and helps him/her be in a position of defining their moral comprehension of how they should behave. For instance, a child brought up knowing hitting other people is acceptable, might be confused as in other areas of the child’s life e.g. school hitting is not acceptable.
This becomes a direct contradiction of what the child is being taught at home which has developed to become a value the child posses. Also, children who have been brought up being exposed to physical discipline are likely to become abusers themselves. In many instances, parents who are not armed with the correct parenting tools are always frustrated when it comes to correcting their children behavior. According to Arnold (2014) spanking can be used as a mode of punishment under two conditions; if it is being implemented by a loving parent and if all other methods of discipline have failed.
Parents and guardians who completely understand their child’s ability to internalize the discipline measures also knows that these discipline measures help develop their child’s value. Psychologists argue that the way a child internalizes morals depends on how the parental discipline strategies are being implemented. Through taking appropriate discipline measures, a child’s morals are developed and shape him/her to become a better person in life as morals are what keep the society together.
Social development
It is every caregiver’s obligation to make sure the child is disciplined and grows to become a productive member of any community. Society is known for setting rules and laws that help people leave peacefully with each other. A child that is not disciplined is likely to break these norms established by the society, and this has its share of consequences. Depending on the community one comes from, the child might be isolated by the society as they view him/her as a bad example, the society might decide to punish the child, or they might choose to shun the family away (OCKWELL-SMITH).
With the help of discipline, a child’s social life is not only developed but also secured. If a child is disciplined, it becomes easy for him/her to associate with other people within the society and establish healthy social relationships. Nobody ever wants to be in any relationship with an individual who is abusive or arrogant. Discipline is what enables a child knows how to behave in any social gathering or school and helps him/her interact freely with other children. With the aid of discipline, the child feels confident when in front of the society as he/she knows the action being performed is right and has no consequences. Such children grow up to become grownups that are confident in life and always go for what they want. If a child is well disciplined, the relationship between the child and the parent is strengthened. This is because children tend to accept their parent’s restriction and follow them to the latter. Through this, the child will feel loved as he/she is not regularly punished thus strengthening the bond. A child social life begins at home before going to the outside society. If a child can connect with his/her family members in a disciplined manner, then it will not be hard for him/her to connect with people outside the family.
Emotional development
Caregivers and guardians develop children self-esteem by giving acknowledgment, encouragement and nourishing their emotions. It important for every parent to be able to recognize their child’s emotion as it helps in presenting early utilization of social cues by which children respond to. Through discipline, a child’s emotions can be cultivated to ensure they are in agreement with the society’s norms. The parent has to ensure the child is well aware of what is going on and not to feel like they are being hated. In some instance, children view being disciplined or punishment as a way of proving you don’t love or care for them.
However, this is not the case and the children ought to be aware of it (Phelan 2-12). Discipline is not all about slapping or spanking the child as it can entail grounding the child or confiscating their electronic devices. Regardless of the method used to punish or discipline the child, it is important the child is aware of what is going on to ensure their emotions are not damaged. For a child to be an important person in the society, his physical, social and emotional aspects must be fully in control and nurtured. These three elements are what make a human being, and if the child is to become disciplined, then these aspects must be taken into consideration.
Conclusion
Raising a child presents numerous challenges for the guardian and parents. The task of ensuring the child grows to become a responsible, respectable and independent person in the society is an arduous work. Discipline is all about changing how a child behaves and not about punishing the child. With the help of training, children can develop the self-discipline that helps in making them be human and emotionally mature adults. Discipline works as a core deterrent to prevent children from being naughty and ensuring the society lives in peace. For any discipline measures to be said to be effective, it must be based on academic action and not subjective opinion.
Work Cited
Arnall, Judy. Discipline Without Distress. 1st ed. Calgary, Alberta: Professional Parenting Canada, 2012. Print.
Arnold, Johann Christoph. Why Children Matter. 1st ed. [United States]: Plough Publishing House, 2014. Print.
OCKWELL-SMITH, SARAH. GENTLE DISCIPLINE BOOK. 1st ed. [S.l.]: PIATKUS BOOKS, 2017. Print.
Phelan, Thomas W. 1-2-3 Magic. 1st ed. Glen Ellyn: ParentMagic, 2010. Print.
