Monday, May 10, 2010

Do What I Say, Not What I Do

We yell at children to tell them to be quiet.

We spank (a form of hitting) children who have hit other children to tell them that hitting is wrong.

We bite children to discourage them from biting.

Am I the only one who wonders about our common discipline practices?

2 comments:

Lenae said...

I've often pondered this too.

... Biting as a punishment for biting? I haven't heard of that before!

Jill said...

Lenae, The times when I've heard of this happening have largely been exasperated parents who don't know what to do and I think often do it in an emotional moment of feeling out of control. However, I also know people who just have the philosophy that maybe if the child experiences being bit they'll know how much it hurts. I continue to wonder.