WHO’S IN CONTROL
Parents would like to think they were. Children often try to prove them wrong. Government is doing their best to take control with laws by banning corporal punishment. Sweden was the first country to ban all forms of corporal punishment of children. Several other countries are trying to make progress in the same direction. The United States laws still give parents the right to use reasonable corporal punishment. Many advocates lean towards reasoning and short time-outs as a way of curbing unwanted behavior.
What about when all the reasoning, yelling, and time-outs in the world do not seem to work? What are parents left with as an alternative? Children have to learn consequences to inappropriate behavior. If the worst that happens to a child is a gentle talking to for biting, throwing a temper tantrum, or playing with matches, then most likely they will offend again. There wasn’t enough a deterrent to keep them from misbehaving again.
Back before the parental “enlightenment” period began, parents would spank their children without batting an eye. Now, parents are afraid that child protective services will be called on them, so they barely use any discipline. Parents feel there is no other way to fight against the social standards of today, and they end up giving in and giving up.
What if there was another way? Why not let the punishment fit the crime? Children love to jump on furniture; it is an inherent trait in many of these young ones. Unchecked, they will find the piece of furniture that gave them the most bounce per capita and jump to their hearts content. Time-outs aren’t enough to keep them from the thrill of the jump and spankings are just a temporary solution. Then what are you left with? How about something that will stick with them for years. My children were no different. I would catch them jumping all the time, in every room, on every piece of cushioned furniture, at everyone’s home.
Fine. I decided they wanted to jump, and then I would invite them to jump to their hearts content and jump until I was tired. They were all for it. The jumped for what seemed like an eternity, laughing, giggling and having a good time. Soon they stopped. I said, “Wait a minute, I’m not tired yet. Remember, you agreed to jump until I was tired.” They looked at each other with the most priceless look of disbelief I had ever seen. They wanted to stop, but I wasn’t tired yet. Soon they realized that mommy doesn’t tire easily. That was the last day they ever jumped on furniture again.
A parent must find new an inventive ways to get the message across. Finding it is the key. Parental Control shouldn’t be limited to the norm when it comes to teaching consequences you just have to be inventive.