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It has been suggested that children of low-income parents tend to receive much harsher discipline than their peers. It would seem this is partially because their parents hold stronger beliefs about the value of spanking and partially because those same parents tend to experience higher levels of stress than those of higher income families.

However, stay-at-home parents and parents with particularly stressful jobs, either of whom feel frustrated or isolated, also tend to more harshly discipline their kids. It is vital that if you are such a parent you recognize this tendency of yours to punish them too severely and learn how to discipline your child so that the punishment you inflict is appropriate for your child’s age, temperament and level of maturity.

Parents from lower income levels and those who work in high pressure jobs are more stressed and tend to react more emotionally to their child’s behaviour, resulting in their use of strict discipline and harsh punishment. If this describes you as a parent you would be advised to seek outside assistance including learning about alternative and less harsh disciplinary strategies that are available and which may be more more appropriate.

Parents in such a situation may easily jump to discipline their child when they err but then fail to praise their child for their good deeds, behaviours and traits. It’s well known that children thrive on praise and this, in turn, encourages better behaviour. Children instinctively want to please their parents and make them proud. Encouraging positive behaviour in their children, discourages the bad behaviour that, in the past, they have punished too harshly.

As a means to both encourage positive behaviour in your child deserving of your praise and to develop your own sense of fair play when disciplining your child, you might want to consider giving your child a task you know they’re able to accomplish, and praise their efforts along the way. Doing this, and knowing why you are doing it, will instil in you a sense of fairness when you nest come to discipline your child.

Parents also need to consistently praise their children for the positive traits they possess. Whatever their good points, whether your child is good at maths, helpful to their little brother or sister, or good at drawing pictures; remember to praise them for it – you’ll reap the rewards later in their improved behaviour.

Remember, whatever else they are, a child is still just a child: so make a concerted effort to ensure the discipline you deal out is always appropriate.

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