Children need discipline. Effective discipline teaches children how to avoid repeating misbehaviors and what to do instead. Spanking is physical punishment, not discipline. There are many positive forms of discipline that are more effective than spanking. A few examples of positive discipline are: using time out, establishing rules and consequences for behavior, redirecting inappropriate behavior, ignoring annoying behaviors that are not harmful to the child or others, taking away privileges, and catching your child being good whenever possible.

Discipline techniques should be appropriate to the age of the child. See the parenting section of your local book store or public library for information on child development and age-appropriate positive discipline technqiues.

• Babies are never candidates for discipline or physical punishment. They're too little to understand and follow rules. They are also easily injured; never shake or hit a baby.  (National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome)
• Like adults, children respond better to approval and affection than they do to punishment.
• Children depend on you to provide structure: regular meal times, play times, and bedtimes.
• Examine your expectations for your kids. There are no perfect children, just as there are no perfect parents. Parents commonly have expectations for children that are beyond their capabilities at that age. If your children consistently fail to meet your expectations, the expectations probably need changing, not the children.
• Shame, rejection, withdrawal of affection, or preferential treatment of one child over another are inappropriate and ineffective ways to discipline.

Visit The Center for Effective Discipline