DISCIPLINE VS PUNISHMENT

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In Asia, most parents discipline for obedience, to get children to behave and listen to them. When a child misbehaves and defies parent's demands, this is where frustration and disappointment kick in for parents, eventually leading to raising voices and physical punishment. All these may temporarily stop the behaviour, but it does not mean the child will not commit again. This kind of strict parenting forces children to behave without having to learn how to self-control and self-discipline.

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When we talk about discipline, punishment comes into the picture because both seem to be similar to one another. Parents punish to discipline children. Therefore, they come in one package. But what if I tell you discipline and punishment are two separate entities? 

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Discipline and Punishment - How are they different from one another?​

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Discipline is a POSITIVE experience. 

 

Punishment is a NEGATIVE experience. 

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DISCIPLINE

 

1. Discipline is about positive teaching, guiding and learning future desirable behaviour.

 

2. Parents give priority to children's emotional and psychological well-being.

 

3. Parents provide children with a healthy and positive environment that encourages learning and promotes self-control. 

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4. Discipline promotes growth-mindset, self-regulation, dynamic thinking and understands social situations, and problem solves better.

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PUNISHMENT

 

1. Punishment, on the other hand, is about fear-based teaching and learning. Instead of teaching desirable behaviours, parents only focus on negative behaviours. 

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2. Parents inflict pain and fear are inflicted on children for their past mistakes and undesirable behaviours.

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3. When parents punish, parents are providing an unsafe learning environment

that reinforces parental control but demotes children's self-control. 

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4. Punishment promotes fixed-mindset, where children internalised fear, have low self-esteem, and poor problem-solving skills.

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