“Discipline” and “Punishment” often are used interchangeably, but they do not mean the same thing. When we hear “discipline,” you may picture a child’s behavior in need of correcting. However, did you know the word “discipline” comes from the Latin word ‘disciplina,’ which means teaching? Somewhere along the way, “discipline” changed from “teach” to “punish.”
Learn more about why children “misbehave.”
What is Punishment?
Punishment often focuses on past misbehavior and does not provide clear expectations for future behavior expected. It can involve disapproval, isolation, pain, blame, and shame. Punishment can cause children to shut down and does not allow for learning, and simply does not create long-term changes in behavior. It results in children thinking, “What happens to me if I resist?” rather than encouraging them to think about “What kind of person do I want to be?”
Here’s interesting information about the effects of punishment on children’s brains.
What is Positive Discipline?
Positive Discipline is an idea that focuses on teaching the child self-control, responsibility, and to respect themselves and others. The core of positive discipline is that there are no bad kids, just unwanted behavior. When we change our perspective to recognize our child’s behavior as communication, we can use compassion and empathy while managing difficult behaviors.
Some argue without punishment, parenting becomes too permissive, allowing a child to run the show. However, Positive Discipline promotes partnership between children and caregivers. Children need discipline and limits, but not punishment.
| Positive Discipline | Punishment |
| Uses conscious discipline to teach expectations for future behavior | Uses isolation, pain, threats, and blame for past behavior |
| Teaches self-control, responsibility, and respect. | Promotes fear, shame, disapproval |
| Parent thinking:
“There are no bad kids, just unwanted behavior.” |
“My child is naughty and acts bad.” |
| Child thinking:
“What kind of person do I want to be?” “How does my behavior affect others?” |
“What happens to me if I resist?” “I need to comply to please others.” |
Tenets of Positive Discipline
Positive Discipline follows these principles when responding to our child’s difficult behavior:
- Shapes behavior through reasoning – Caregivers offer an explanation and teach why the behavior is unacceptable or unsafe.
- “It is unsafe to run into the street. You must hold my hand to stay safe.”
- “I’m disappointed in your choice to throw the rock. That could hurt our friends. You can choose to throw the ball or go inside.”
- Considers the child’s emotional intelligence and encourages the child to express their feelings in an appropriate way.
- “I see you are angry, but I will not let you hit.”
- “I understand you are sad. We had fun with the sand and can play again next time. Now, it’s time to go.”
- Focuses on empathy and concern for others – Caregivers build on a child’s intrinsic motivation to be kind.
- “What happens when you push your sister? How does it make her feel?”
- “It makes me feel sad when you choose not to be helpful. You can try again next time.”
- Responds with compassion and kindness – Caregivers do not take a child’s behavior personally, but offer discipline calmly and compassionately.
- “It seems like you are having a tough time. I will sit over here until you are ready for a hug.”
- “You are using hurtful words. You can play away from your friends until you are ready to choose kind words.”
It’s important to note, even when using Positive Discipline our children will likely have difficult behaviors. It’s developmentally appropriate for children to express themselves through crying, fussing, and testing boundaries. Practicing Positive Discipline allows our children a safe place to learn and change their behavior as they grow.
What does the research say about Positive Discipline & responsive parenting?
Using Positive Discipline can teach our children empathy, compassion, emotional competence, problem-solving skills, social skills, and expectations for their behavior.
Even across ethnic and cultural differences, studies continue to show positive discipline is associated with more positive outcomes in children (Pinquart & Kauser, 2017; Steinberg, 2001).
Research indicates the following benefits of positive discipline and responsive parenting styles:
Develop stronger connection and attachment with caregivers
Attachment theory is well researched and supported by evidence. Even starting in infancy, research suggests mothers who are more sensitive to their child’s interest and needs are more securely attached (Fuertes et al, 2006). In another study, undergraduate students in the United States were presented with a series of moral problems and asked how they would solve them. Students from families using positive discipline strategies were more likely than others to say that their parents–not their peers–would influence their decisions (Bednar & Fisher, 2003).
Increased empathy for others and improved emotional health
Positive discipline and responsive parenting may help children become more empathic, helpful, and kind to others (Krevans and Gibbs 1996; Knafo and Plomin 2006). Children who are encouraged to develop their emotional intelligence may be better at controlling their impulses, internalizing rules, and responding to delayed gratification (e.g., Heikamp et al 2013; Bernier et al 2015).
Decreased aggressive or defiant behaviors in the future
Practicing tenets from Positive Discipline may also help prevent children from developing aggressive or defiant behavior problems (Choe et al 2013; Arsenio and Ramos-Marcuse 2014). Additionally, children may be less likely to engage in drug and alcohol use, juvenile delinquency, or antisocial behavior (Benchaya et al 2011; Luyckx et al 2011).
Increased moral reasoning skills
Children may develop more advanced moral reasoning skills (Krevans and Gibb 1996; Kerr et al 2004; Patrick & Gibbs 2016).
Increased language development
Infants learn language more rapidly when caregivers respond promptly and contingently to what babies do (Tamis-Lamonda et al 2014).
Improved ability to problem-solve
Multiple studies support children who are taught using Positive Discipline strategies have increased problem-solving skills as compared to their peers (Turkel and Tezer 2008; Rothrauff et al 2009).
Increased resilience from toxic stress
Using Positive Discipline may decrease children’s risk of chronic disease, premature aging, and effects of toxic stress throughout their life. One study using fMRI suggested sensitive and responsive parents can protect children from brain-shrinking that can occur from toxic stress (Luby et al, 2013).
Follow-up studies confirm the effect lasts into the toddler years, and researchers suspect effects on epigenetics, or long-term alterations of DNA function (Sharp et al 2015; Pickles et al 2016). Early life stress can silence genes that help regulate an individual’s stress response system; however, tactile affection appears to reverse the effects (Murgatroyd et al 2016).
Learn more about Positive Discipline:
https://positivediscipline.org/articles
https://www.parentingscience.com/authoritative-parenting-style.html
https://consciousdiscipline.com/about/parents/
https://www.parentingscience.com/responsive-parenting-health-benefits.html
https://consciouslyparenting.com
Check out all our posts about Communicating with Connection.
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References:
Positive Discipline – A Fine Parent
Toddler Discipline Without Shame – Janet Lansbury
Arsenio W and Ramos-Marcuse F. 2014. Children’s moral emotions, narratives, and aggression: relations with maternal discipline and support. J Genet Psychol. 175(5-6):528-46.
Bednar DE and Fisher TD. 2003. Peer referencing in adolescent decision making as a function of perceived parenting style. Adolescence. 38(152):607-21.
Benchaya MC, Bisch NK, Moreira TC, Ferigolo M, and Barros HM. 2011. Non-authoritative parents and impact on drug use: the perception of adolescent children. J Pediatr (Rio J). 87(3):238-44
Bernier A, Beauchamp MH, Carlson SM, Lalonde G. 2015. A secure base from which to regulate: Attachment security in toddlerhood as a predictor of executive functioning at school entry. Dev Psychol. 51(9):1177-89.
Choe DE, Olson SL, and Sameroff AJ. 2013. The interplay of externalizing problems and physical and inductive discipline during childhood. Dev Psychol. 49(11):2029-39.
Fuertes M, Santos PL, Beeghly M, and Tronick E. 2006. More than maternal sensitivity shapes attachment: infant coping and temperament. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1094:292-6.
Heikamp T, Trommsdorff G, Druey MD, Hübner R, von Suchodoletz A. 2013. Kindergarten children’s attachment security, inhibitory control, and the internalization of rules of conduct. Front Psychol. 4:133.
Kerr DC, Lopez NL, Olson SL, and Sameroff AJ. 2004. Parental Discipline and Externalizing Behavior Problems in Early Childhood: The Roles of Moral Regulation and Child Gender. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 32(4):369-83.
Knafo A and Plomin R. 2008. Prosocial behavior from early to middle childhood: genetic and environmental influences on stability and change. Developmental psychology 42(5):771-86.
Krevans J and Gibbs JC. 1996. Parents’ use of inductive discipline: relations to children’s empathy and prosocial behavior. Child Development, 67: 3263-77.
Luby J, Belden A, Botteron K, Marrus N, Harms MP, Babb C, Nishino T, and Barch D. 2013. The effects of poverty on childhood brain development: the mediating effect of caregiving and stressful life events. JAMA Pediatr. 167(12):1135-42
Luyckx K, Tildesley EA, Soenens B, Andrews JA, Hampson SE, Peterson M, and Duriez B. 2011. Parenting and trajectories of children’s maladaptive behaviors: a 12-year prospective community study. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 40(3):468-78.
Murgatroyd C, Quinn JP, Sharp HM, Pickles A, Hill J. Effects of prenatal and postnatal depression, and maternal stroking, at the glucocorticoid receptor gene. Transl Psychiatry. 5:e560.
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Pinquart M and Kauser R. 2017. Do the Associations of Parenting Styles With Behavior Problems and Academic Achievement Vary by Culture? Results From a Meta-Analysis. Culture Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2017 Apr 10. doi: 10.1037/cdp0000149.
Rothrauff TC, Cooney TM, and An JS. 2009. Remembered parenting styles and adjustment in middle and late adulthood. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 64(1):137-46.
Sharp H, Hill J, Hellier J, Pickles A. 2015. Maternal antenatal anxiety, postnatal stroking and emotional problems in children: outcomes predicted from pre- and postnatal programming hypotheses. Psychol Med. 45(2):269-83.
Steinberg L. 2001. We know some things: Parent-adolescent relationships in retrospect and prospect. Journal of research on adolescence 11(1): 1-19.
Tamis-LaMonda CS, Kurchirko Y, and Song L. 2014. Why is infant language learning facilitated by parental responsiveness? Current Directions in Psychological Science23(2): 121-12.
Türkel YD and Tezer E. 2008. Parenting styles and learned resourcefulness of Turkish adolescents. Adolescence. 43(169):143-52.
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