Many parents refer to Proverbs 13:24 when disciplining their children.  The verse reads, “If you refuse to discipline your children, it proves you don’t love them.”

What many parents don’t realize is that the word ‘discipline’ actually means to instruct.

When we discipline our children, we want them to learn from their actions and choices, so they don’t make the same mistakes over again.  When parents send their children to time out or spank them and the same negative behavior continues, it’s time to change tactics.

If your child repeats the same behavior, make the consequence fit the crime.  For example, if a child hits another child, have the consequence be to do something for the hurt child; do his or her chore, or use a toy that belongs to the child who hit a sibling.  That’s a natural consequence that hits the child where it makes a point.

We’ll be discussing more natural consequences in later blog entries.