8th Admendment

     No cruel or unusual punishment.

     Yet what course do we take when children need to be disciplined?

     The Bible says to train up a child in the way they should go, and when they are old they shall not depart from it.  We should train our children and younger siblings to honor the Lord.

     There are some creative ways of getting your message across.  You don't have to stand on a stump and scream, you don't have to ground them until there are old enough to buy life insurance, etc.

    When you correct a child, you should never do it in anger, but in love.  When you correct in anger, the child senses it, they may retaliate or become even more sullen and distant.  As parents and older siblings, we want what is best for the child.  We certainly don't want them to become resentful of us.

    Asking some of the homeschooling moms I knew, I found some creative ways to discipline and correct.  I thought I would share them with you all:

•     One family would have their child look up Bible verses that explained what they did was wrong.  They also had them write their findings down in an essay and explain how it could negatively impact their family and specifically them as a individual.  I think backing up your stand with God's Word, is an excellent way to correct a child.  This is also a great method to use with older children.
• Another family would have the child choose their punishment.  Of course they made sure the punishment fit the "crime", the child was less inclined to become resentful of their parents because they had chosen their own punishment.  They had no one but themselves to blame if they didn't like it.
• Have the child make amends.  If Johnny broke Susie's favorite toy, he can either fix it, or replace it.  This is a great way to teach children that actions have consequence, and that you should make amends when you do something against someone.
• Extra chores like dusting, cleaning the chicken coop (or bathroom), matching socks, or pulling weeds can be useful reinforcement.
• Don't force apologies, it teaches the child to lie and make it look as sincere as possible while it is the furthest thing from the truth.  This doesn't mean that the child shouldn't apologize, but sometimes the child needs to be given a little time to cool down (they can have time-out, or do some extra chores while they think about their actions).  They should also not just say they are sorry, but show that they are sorry.
• Sometimes, a trip to the woodshed is best.  But don't try to humiliate them by having them bare their bottoms (especially when they get older).  Spanking them in front of siblings or other adults may not always be a good idea.  Correction is sometimes best done in private.
  
  
  
       I hope you all enjoy these tips and find them helpful.  Different children respond differently to certain kinds of correction.  How to you handle sibling disagreements?  Lying?  Disregard for rules and guidelines?  If you have something that works for you, we'd love for you to share it.  :)