Safe Children Bright Futures

 

What Is Discipline? What Is Punishment?

What Is Punishment?

Punishment involves a sanction or penalty as a consequence of a child's unacceptable behaviour and is used to extinguish behaviour.
 
Punishment combines control, force and physical pain to get children to behave in acceptable ways. It is characterized by external control and can involve force or coercion. Punishment does not necessarily require mutual respect or trust between the parent/child.
 
Some examples of physical punishment are:

  • Punching, kicking, shaking, harsh spankings or slaps
  • Throwing objects that can injure a child
  • Threatening a child with physical harm
  • Placing a child in a locked or confined space
  • Depriving a child of basic needs 

There is a significant risk of injury to the child when a parent uses physical punishment.

"Effective discipline can be achieved without physical punishment."

Punishment can cause physical harm, permanent physical disabilities and occasionally death. There is a risk of emotional problems developing in the future.

Many children who have been punished as a child grow up to become abusive to their children and their family as an adult.

What Is Discipline?

Discipline covers all methods used to train and teach children self-control and socially acceptable behaviour. Discipline does not inflict physical or psychological harm to a child. Discipline is a necessary part of the parent/child relationship. Expectations should be consistent with the age and stage of the child's development.

Discipline
  • Involves the process of education, guidance and learning to help children develop self- control
  • Is characterized by mutual respect and trust
  • Includes a belief that the child will be willing to change because of respect or with greater understanding
  • Has as its goal the development of internal controls that helps the child relate to others in a positive and responsible way

Good disciplinary practices include:

  • Positive reinforcement
  • Praise
  • Modelling
  • Structure and routine
  • Setting and maintaining limits
  • Realistic expectations
  • Follow through
  • Verbal and non-verbal cues
  • Time outs
  • Logical consequences
  • Problem-solving
What Does CAS Do To Protect Children?

If you call CAS with concerns about a child who is being physically harmed by their caretakers, CAS will:

  • Investigate cases where there is credible evidence that a child has been physically harmed or is at risk of physical harm
  • Investigate and take appropriate steps to protect the child
  • Offer counselling on different and appropriate methods of child management

"A child can learn self-discipline if he/she is supported, treated with respect and experiences tolerance of feelings."

If the child is not safe in the family home, then CAS must make a plan to protect the child. Wherever possible, CAS works with the child in the context of his own family home. There are more than 800 children in CAS care in London and Middlesex. CAS works with many more children in their own family homes.

 

Need help? Contact CAS at 519 455-9000