Discipline as Encouragement

Punishment and appeasement are both short-term, reactive solutions as opposed to long-term, proactive solutions. Regardless of whether the parent or teacher chooses punishment or appeasement, the child misses countless opportunities to build competency in crucial life skills such as self-discipline, self-control, and conflict-resolution.

Proponents of Positive Discipline believe that most misbehavior stems from mistaken beliefs or goals in a child’s attempt to achieve belonging and significance. He thinks that his belonging or significance has either been threatened or destroyed and he is acting in a way to remedy the situation. This may be because he lacks the knowledge or skills ... See more

Positive Discipline is a parenting philosophy that holds that the reason for a child’s misbehavior is a mistaken belief or goal he has while in pursuit of belonging and significance. In order to solve the behavior challenge while enabling the child to build self-discipline and responsibility, therefore, the belief must be handled first. Thus, disci... See more

addressing the behavior first or only addressing the behavior is a band-aid solution, whether it’s done through punishment or appeasement. It may stop the behavior in the moment, but it never gets to the root of the issue.