Christine Tolentino

Discipline

According to Bell, Bindler, & Cowen (2015), the definition of

discipline is a method for teaching the rules that govern behavior or

conduct (p. 1050). In pediatrics children go through different stages

of thinking as they grow and develop, and thats why parents should

discipline their children depending on their current stage of thinking.

How a parent disciplines a 5 year old will not be the same as how they

discipline a 13 year old. According to Leifer, G. (2011), discipline for a

preschooler (3-5 years old), should consist of limit settings, time-out,

rewarding, and consistency and modeling. Setting limits makes them

feel secure, protects them from danger, and relieves them from

making decisions that they may be too young too formulate (p. 426).

Preschoolers are in a stage where they want to do things on their own

with no help, but they are too young to know what is right from wrong,

so parents have to set limits in their settings to prevent harm to the

child. Time out is usually one minute per year of age (Leifer, 2011).

Time out is used when an unwanted behavior is presented by the child,

and should be a time where no interaction or play is perused. After

time out parent explains in short terms why the time out is needed, so

they know the purpose in hopes they dont do it again (Leifer, 2011).

On the other hand of bad behavior good behavior should also be

recognized through the use of rewards. Leifer, G. (2011) stated that,

rewards can be hugs, smiles, tone of voice, and praise (p. 427).
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Rewards doesnt necessarily have to be a actual object like a toy or

candy, it can simply be the act of being positive and happy that they

are doing such an amazing job. Being consistent with the way that

parents discipline their preschooler will make the above methods a

success in getting good behavior and staying away from bad behavior.

Parents should also model good behavior around their preschooler, so

that they know how to behave in a well-behaved manner (Leifer,

2011). Children will understand more when the punishment and

rewarding are consistent and there is no confusion as to way they were

punished or rewarded for a certain behavior. The child should also be

rewarded or punished every time the behavior is presented, because if

its not then the purpose is now lost. Children always look up to their

parents and what the parents do is usually what the child mimics, so if

good behavior is presented by parents, then the children will also

follow a well behaved pattern.

The 13 year child is in a stage of thinking where they should

know right from wrong and is able to explain why certain things are

wrong and what certain things are right and why they should or should

not do those things. According to Bell et al., (2015), adolescents still

needs discipline or guidance from parents at certain times, but parents

should still enforce few important rules, and set useful boundaries (p.

222). Adolescents are at a time in life where they shed away from

parents and focus more on peers or people outside the household, so

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they are always against the parents rules and regulations. This is very

common for an adolescent, but parents should still have control over

their child and let them know what is accepted and what is not.

Parents should approach their adolescent in a calm and un-defensive

manner, so that the child does not shut down from the start and

doesnt listen to anything after that. Parents still should set a good

role model figure and also be consistent with punishment because it

helps the child see what should and should not be done.

In conclusion, discipline between a preschooler and an

adolescent is very different. With the preschooler the parent has to be

very involved with punishing bad behavior and rewarding good

behavior. At this stage the preschooler doesnt know what are rules

and why they are implemented, but with consistency and good

explanation the child soon realizes what is good behavior and what is

bad behavior based on the rewarding or punishment that they receive.

Adolescents on the other hand should know what is right from wrong

and why certain things can and cannot be done. Even though

adolescents seem to know it all they dont, so the parents still have to

enforce important rules and limitations. The approach to an

adolescent from the parents is being more welcoming and understating

instead of mean and stern. The adolescents will listen more to a calm,

re-assuring tone than a harsh, strict tone. According to Sommer,

Johnson, Roberts, Redding, Churchill, Ball, Henry, Leehy, Roland (2013),

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discipline should be with well-defined boundaries that are established

to develop appropriate social behavior(pp. 34). Parents should be

aware of their childs current developmental and cognitive level in

order to know what discipline measures will work on the child. Having

a discipline method that is appropriate or the child would make it

easier to enforce rules and regulations, because the child would

understand the discipline and why it is happening.

References

Ball, J., Bindler, R., Cowen, K., (2015). Principals of pediatric nursing:

Caring for

children (6th ed. Pp. 222, 1050). Hoboken, NJ: Pearson.

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Leifer, G. (2011). Introduction to maternity & pediatric nursing (6th ed.

Pp. 426,

427). St. Louis, MI: Elsevier.

Sommer, S., Johnson, J., Roberts, K., Redding, S., Churchill, L., Ball, B.,

Henry, N.J.,

Leehy, P., Roland, P. (2013). RN nursing care of children: Review

Module (9th ed., pp. 34). Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC.