Archive for November, 2008
November 16th, 2008 | 
Author: One of the most controversial topics on parenting is about imposing discipline on a child. What, exactly, do we mean when we discipline a child? Will it matter to him if the parent disciplines him or not? Some believe that too much disciplining will create a person who will have so many hang-ups later in life, needing a therapist to function normally, and, thus, would impose little discipline. For others, they think that very little disciplining can lead to a person who knows no boundaries, posing a danger to society, and would tend to be very strict. This article will talk about disciplining a child, why it is important, and some tips on effective discipline.
What is discipline?
A lot of people equate discipline to punishment. When they hear of the word “discipline”, they think of spankings, time outs, grounding, and other actions penalizing wrongdoing. Yet, one must remember that the word “discipline” has the same root word as that of “disciple”. Both came from a Latin word meaning “pupil”. Thus, discipline really means to teach or to guide. Punishment may be a form of disciplining, but not the only one.
What are the effects of discipline?
Let us take the game of baseball. Supposing there are no rules in playing the game. There are no strike zones, no outs, or no way to keep scores. How fun will that be? The rules are imposed not to stifle the players but to make the game more enjoyable. Without the rules, players may not even have the motivation to hone their skills.
This is also true with discipline. By imposing rules and boundaries according to the child’s age, he can develop self-discipline, helping the child to grow up happy and well adjusted.
Some tips on effective discipline.
1. Rules must be clear to the child.
Going back to our example of the game of baseball, what if the batter does not understand why a certain pitch is called a ball, while another is called a strike. Without this understanding, the batter will swing his bat with every pitch, even if the ball is way above his head.
Rules that are vague to a child will only lead to frustration. Talk with your child when putting limits. Be sure that your child understands what is expected of him when a situation occurs.
2. Be consistent.
What if the distance between the first base and the home plate is varied every time a batter comes up to the plate? Worse, what if the base is moved while the player is running towards it?
By being consistent, a child learns that certain actions will result in a predictable consequence. The child will learn self-discipline, for he will know what actions to take, or not take, if he wants to have, or avoid, a certain outcome.
3. Provide positive feedback.
Actions that are rewarded get repeated. Unfortunately, there are some children who think that being noticed by a busy parent is a form of reward. The child may behave badly, even risking punishment, just to get the attention of his parent. Therefore, be sure to reward good behavior. A simple “thank you”, a kiss, or even a little smile may be enough feedback.
Remember, to discipline your child is to teach him how to grow up happy and secure. He will not see your disciplining as punishment; rather, he will look at it as a sign of love
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One of the most controversial topics on parenting is about imposing discipline on a child. What, exactly, do we mean when we discipline a child? Will it matter to him if the parent disciplines him or not? Some believe that too much disciplining will create a person who will have so many hang-ups later in life, needing a therapist to function normally, and, thus, would impose little discipline. For others, they think that very little disciplining can lead to a person who knows no boundaries, posing a danger to society, and would tend to be very strict. This article will talk about disciplining a child, why it is important, and some tips on effective discipline.
What is discipline?
A lot of people equate discipline to punishment. When they hear of the word “discipline”, they think of spankings, time outs, grounding, and other actions penalizing wrongdoing. Yet, one must remember that the word “discipline” has the same root word as that of “disciple”. Both came from a Latin word meaning “pupil”. Thus, discipline really means to teach or to guide. Punishment may be a form of disciplining, but not the only one.
What are the effects of discipline?
Let us take the game of baseball. Supposing there are no rules in playing the game. There are no strike zones, no outs, or no way to keep scores. How fun will that be? The rules are imposed not to stifle the players but to make the game more enjoyable. Without the rules, players may not even have the motivation to hone their skills.
This is also true with discipline. By imposing rules and boundaries according to the child’s age, he can develop self-discipline, helping the child to grow up happy and well adjusted.
Some tips on effective discipline.
1. Rules must be clear to the child.
Going back to our example of the game of baseball, what if the batter does not understand why a certain pitch is called a ball, while another is called a strike. Without this understanding, the batter will swing his bat with every pitch, even if the ball is way above his head.
Rules that are vague to a child will only lead to frustration. Talk with your child when putting limits. Be sure that your child understands what is expected of him when a situation occurs.
2. Be consistent.
What if the distance between the first base and the home plate is varied every time a batter comes up to the plate? Worse, what if the base is moved while the player is running towards it?
By being consistent, a child learns that certain actions will result in a predictable consequence. The child will learn self-discipline, for he will know what actions to take, or not take, if he wants to have, or avoid, a certain outcome.
3. Provide positive feedback.
Actions that are rewarded get repeated. Unfortunately, there are some children who think that being noticed by a busy parent is a form of reward. The child may behave badly, even risking punishment, just to get the attention of his parent. Therefore, be sure to reward good behavior. A simple “thank you”, a kiss, or even a little smile may be enough feedback.
Remember, to discipline your child is to teach him how to grow up happy and secure. He will not see your disciplining as punishment; rather, he will look at it as a sign of love
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Beyond a doubt unique gift ideas can be exciting to come up with and are usually very meaningful to the recipient. You might think finding the right gift is a hard thing to do. If you think of a perfect gift idea as something that reflects the individual’s way of life, special interests, or character, it will most certainly be thought of as not only special but nearly as perfect as you can get.
Personalized photo gifts of course have an aspect of uniqueness about them. I’m not talking about monogrammed handkerchiefs; after all, many people have the same initials. What I’m talking about is a gift which really speaks highly of the recipient. For example: a gifts idea can express the kind of person they are or what their hobby, vocation, or particular joy in life is. A gifts idea can show how much you care.
Have you ever watched one of those movies about a sacred Egyptian tomb? You know, the kind where once a year the sun shines through a little crack for just a moment and if you’re privileged enough to be there at the exact time and hold the magic chalice up to catch the sunbeams, strange and hopefully incredible things begin to happen. Whether you have or haven’t seen this portrayed in a movie you’re no doubt beginning to wonder what all this has to do with a gifts idea. Read on.
An etched glass oval-shaped panel portraying two ducks in the water among some cattails is in our front door. It’s attractive enough just to look at from the outside, and even prettier viewed from the inside — when the outside light is shining just right. What we were pleasantly surprised by was the display put on during early spring and late fall. For a few days the morning sun is in just the right area and for a few magical minutes perfectly projects the image from the glass onto the wall. We couldn’t have prepared that wonderful delight even if we tried. There definitely is something about a personalized etched mirror that’s not only one-of-a-kind but just may astonish you with some pleasant and unexpected surprises. Whether it’s a front door, transom, personalized coat rack or coffee table, the magic produced by the combination of etched glass and surrounding lighting can definitely add to your great gift.
The design could be a border, or an image blanketing the entire surface. It could be verse of scripture, a poem or lyrics from a favorite song. Whether the subject is one of anemones to zebras and anything in between, don’t forget an etched mirror as a option. No matter whether your gift is a personalized etched mirror, a wall mounted mirror coat rack or a etched glass top coffee table, etching can turn an "ordinary" mirror or glass into an object with a personality of its own creating a valued keepsake.
Unique gift ideas are easier to come by than you might think and if you look around you will probably find an object or image which could be used to create an etched design. Who knows, you might even surprise your friend with a gifts idea of "ducks in your doorway".
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