Discipline: A Balancing Act
Setting boundaries and expectations—and enforcing them with discipline when needed—is required for the healthy development of your children. By viewing discipline as teaching your child, instead of punishing your child, you can help your child develop responsibility, self-esteem, confidence, and a positive personal identity. Having clear, consistent boundaries also helps children feel safe and secure.
Why Discipline Matters:
- Only 48 percent of teenagers surveyed indicate that their family has clearly defined boundaries, which includes having clear rules and consequences and having parents that monitor their teens’ whereabouts.1
- Did You Know? Girls are more likely than boys to say that their parents keep track of their whereabouts. A full 86 percent of girls (and 77 percent of boys) say their parents ask where they are going and who they will be with most or all of the time.1
Tips for Discussing Boundaries >
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1 Developmental Assets: A Profile of Your Youth (Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute, 2005), 2003 weighted aggregate dataset, unpublished report.
These action-response tips for kids of all ages will help you respond positively when the situation calls for discipline.
Everyday Steps are the little things you can do as a parent, every day. These little steps add up to successful kids in the long run. Look for the Everyday Steps icon throughout ParentFurther, and remember: The little things you do—every day—add up!
