It is true that children should learn how to distinguish between positive and negative behaviours as early as possible. While some argue that punishment is a crucial part of this process, I believe that it does not simply work.
The distinction between what is right and what is wrong is important for children to know how to interact with others as they develop their moral compass early on in life. Failure to do this at an early age can be dangerous not only for the toddlers and their families but also for the people around them. Serial killers and rapists are just two examples of adults that did not gain the skill of differentiating between right and wrong. Moreover this differentiation prevents a person from being victimized by others. For instance, if a child cannot tell the difference between the good and bad, they can be easily manipulated and might even become a prey to narcissists and abusers.
On the other hand, although youngsters should understand that bad behaviour have bad consequences, penalizing is not the best way to make them feel so. firstly, retribution makes the child focus on the consequences, he is suffering not the effects of his behaviour on other people, which makes him more self-centred and less empathic. Secondly, when a child is punished it makes him feel like he is a bad person which is always a self-fulfilling prophecy, so he's more likely to repeat the bad behaviour. Finally punishment, regardless of its type, erode the relationship between children and their parents or teachers making them more likely to behave badly.
In conclusion, It is vital for children to differentiate between the right and wrong but the punishment, whatever it is, should not be used to force them to avoid mistakes.
It is true that
children
should learn how to distinguish between
positive
and
negative
behaviours
as early as possible. While
some
argue that punishment is a crucial part of this process, I believe that it does not
simply
work.
The distinction between what is right and what is
wrong
is
important
for
children
to know how to interact with others as they develop their moral compass early on in life. Failure to do this at an early age can be
dangerous
not
only
for the toddlers and their families
but
also
for the
people
around them. Serial killers and rapists are
just
two examples of adults that did not gain the
skill
of differentiating between right and
wrong
.
Moreover
this differentiation
prevents
a person from
being victimized
by others.
For instance
, if a child cannot
tell
the difference between the
good
and
bad
, they can be
easily
manipulated and might even become a prey to narcissists and abusers.
On the
other
hand, although youngsters should understand that
bad
behaviour
have
bad
consequences, penalizing is not the best way to
make
them feel
so
.
firstly
, retribution
makes
the child focus on the consequences, he is suffering not the effects of his
behaviour
on
other
people
, which
makes
him more
self-centred
and less empathic.
Secondly
, when a child
is punished
it
makes
him feel like he is a
bad
person which is always a self-fulfilling prophecy,
so
he's more likely to repeat the
bad
behaviour
.
Finally
punishment, regardless of its type, erode the relationship between
children
and their parents or teachers making them more likely to behave
badly
.
In conclusion
, It is vital for
children
to differentiate between the right and
wrong
but
the punishment, whatever it is, should not be
used
to force them to avoid mistakes.