Unlike Punishment, Here Are The Benefits Of Introducing Natural Consequences To Children

Illustration of the benefits of introducing natural consequences to children (Freepic)

YOGYAKARTA A natural consequence is the natural result that occurs without outside interference. For example, when a child forgets to bring a jacket to school, he will feel cold in an air-conditioned room or when the environmental temperature is too low. This is one of the natural consequences that need to be introduced to children.

According to clinical professor of pediatrics and children at Children's Hospital Mount Sinai Kravis, New York City, Aliza Pressman, Ph.D., the key to using natural consequences on children is when parents step aside and let their children feel the impact of what they do or don't do. By not intervening, parents let their children learn while doing certain actions. So that children really feel the results of their work, explains Dr. Pressman. This can mean that they will be cold, exhausted, no homework, late, or other unpleasant things.

Caroline Fulton, PsyD, child and adolescent psychologist reported by VerywellFamily, Tuesday, October 3, logical consequences and natural consequences are different. Sometimes, logical consequences are given intentionally by adults in an effort to change behavior. For example, when teenagers don't go home at night while playing with their peers, the logical consequences agreed are not allowed to drive for a week.

Natural consequences are things that happen automatically as a result of the actions or absence of a child without the purpose of an adult. If the natural consequences are not desirable or unpleasant, children have the opportunity to learn from the experience and do different things at other times to avoid this unpleasant experience, "explained Fulton.

How to introduce children about these natural consequences, related to teaching responsibilities, independence, and motivation. How to introduce them should not be in a hurry either. Because if in a hurry, parents tend to 'cheat' children from the consequences of their unpleasant behavior.

Natural consequences can help children develop intrinsic motivation for adaptive behavior, says Dr. Fulton.

Because according to Fulton teaching natural consequences related to children's adaptive behavior, it must be done gradually. That is, if they know you don't automatically improve the consequences they get, they will most likely do it on their own as a process of adapting and understanding the consequences of each of their actions. Pressman added that natural consequences also help build internal will that will benefit children in the future.

The most basic principle that parents need to understand, if children do not work hard, the natural consequence is that they feel bad because they leave work below the standard and get low grades.

In addition to children learning about responsibilities, independence, and motivation, the benefit of teaching natural consequences is to help them become more confident. By recognizing the natural consequences of the outcome of learning something, for example, it means that children will be able to bear responsibility and can control results through their own actions.

"After experiencing unpleasant natural consequences, children can use the information they learned when the situation occurs again. Behavior can change once the child understands and experiences unwanted results," said Fulton.

Natural consequences also teach causal causes, which are not discomfort or unpleasant experiences. But they develop an understanding of causal causes, so they can predict, understand their own abilities, and affect the environment with good effect.