Posted by I have long been a critical of spanking kids and I have not lied that when I was a child this was the preferred method of discipline. My belief of anti-spanking was probably generated during my childhood. Both my parents never spanked for harm but that was their way to ‘reset’ the behavior. It didn’t work! I never felt compelled to act any better after an incident. That is where historically, generational traditions were passed down ‘spanking’ being one of them.
Fast forward to being a parent now. The research is overwhelming that spanking children can cause further developmental issues, making them more prone to antisocial behavior in adulthood, and is overwhelmingly ineffective. But you still need to discipline your children.
- Children will listen. Perhaps not to you yelling at the top of your lungs (even though being Greek, I can get loud) but I have found the most effective way is to get close and quiet when conveying a message.
- Routine—having a routine of how you communicate is important. Every night before we arrive home, I will review my expectations with both Maddox & Kennedy. My goal is not to list out their chores but to get verbal confirmation from them. They are now part of the evening pre-dinner plan.
- When the wheels fall off—our method is to take away privileges such as screen time, play dates, and even extracurricular activities.
That is what works in our house and they do well in following suit. We have our ups and downs but for the most part the kids manage well. How do you discipline?
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