Tips For Teaching Discipline To Children Without Violence

Ilustrasi (Willian Fortunato / Pexels)

JAKARTA - Some of us may have experienced physical punishment as a child, either at home or at school. Maybe we grow up and see corporal punishment happen every day, so we see it as a natural thing. Because our parents and teachers use it, we consider corporal punishment the usual way adults treat children. If the naughty child goes too far, maybe he needs to be spanked to deter him. After all, the reason is because he loves and his intention is to educate.

Over time, science also continues to develop. As primary caregivers and educators of children, we are responsible for creating a safe environment and encouraging children to develop optimally. Now, a new understanding is developing that corporal punishment is inappropriate, unlawful and dangerous for children. Corporal punishment should no longer have a place in education, either at home or at school.

Physical punishment results in anger, shame, fear and insecurity. Children who receive corporal punishment may also lose confidence in adults who punish them repeatedly. Corporal punishment also teaches children that violence is a natural way to get others to do what we want. They can pass it on as bullying to friends, or domestic violence as adults.

Positive discipline is an approach for teachers and parents in guiding children's behavior. With positive discipline, teachers and parents are expected to pay attention to the psychological and emotional needs of children before paying attention to behavior changes. The purpose of positive discipline is to help children develop a sense of responsibility to make good and thoughtful decisions. Positive discipline helps children learn discipline with motivation from within themselves, not out of fear of others.

In positive discipline, children are introduced to the consequences of their actions. If his actions are not good, the child will receive consequences according to his behavior. Consequences that are agreed upon by the child and the teacher or parent, are not embarrassing or violent. For example, a child spills a cup of coffee on the carpet. Consequently, he had to clean and dry the carpet.

In Indonesia, the positive discipline approach in schools is still relatively new. As a parent, you can encourage the use of this positive discipline in several ways, launches Parenting, Wednesday, November 3, namely;

Get to know the discipline approach in children's schools. You can chat and ask your child's principal and class teacher, what ways they apply to implement discipline at school.

Make yourself a school partner. Explain to the child that school rules must be obeyed even though they may be different from the rules at home. Show your respect for the teacher and the school in front of your child.

You have to accept the fact that you can't know everything at school. Teachers and schools have a code of conduct not to discuss students who are not your children with you. It is also to avoid bullying and prejudice.

If the school does not know or use positive discipline, you and the School Committee can arrange a seminar or training on positive discipline that can be attended by parents and teachers.