Effective Discipline – how’s a parent to know?

With the goal of teaching children self-discipline and self-control, parents can appreciate the need for effective tools when teaching responsibility and respect.  In the heat of the moment, though, when the situation may be full of emotion, many parents struggle to know if whatever disciplining tool that is used is helping achieve the goal of self-discipline.

In her book, “kids are worth it,” author Barbara Coloroso explains her philosophy on parenting and effective discipline:

“Kids are worth it.  They have dignity and worth simply because they are.  I will not treat a child in a way I myself would not want to be treated.  The ethic that we should treat others as we ourselves want to be treated and not in a way we ourselves would not want to be treated.  If it works and leaves a child’s own dignity intact, do it.  A serious problem with the many parenting tools that control kids and make them mind is that both parents’ and children’s dignity and sense of self-worth are sacrificed in the name of behavior modification or behavior management.”

Therefore,  when choosing what do do in the heat of the moment, and with the goal of teaching a child and promoting growth, parents will find it most effective to always maintain respect for and the dignity of the child.