Disciplining Children in the African Home

Introduction

Caring for children is not an easy task, especially when the children are total strangers. The care providers are equipped with knowledge and experiences in handling different situations in childcare and this study can help other individuals to promote the discipline for children.

Background of the Study and Problem Statement

Adults, such as parents, are aware that physical abuse can appear too damaging and sometimes deadly, especially when it is given to a child. However, there is a dividing line between discipline and abuse. Parents or care providers one way to discipline a child is through punishments and awards, but many experts in childcare agreed that physical punishments and awards are both ineffective when they want to control the children’s behavior (Boone, 2009). They can only hurt the child or spoil them. It is important that the children are given such right, respect, and protection even if they came in different race. The hanging question that plays between the discipline and abuse is “what is the applicable way/s to discipline the children in the African Home?” And this study will attempt to provide the best answer in terms of disciplining.

Research Objectives

The study is fueled by the objectives and they are enumerated as follows:

Ø To recognize the appropriate strategy that can be applied in childe-disciplining.

Ø To help the African Home manage the issues that involves the children.

Ø To deeply understand the behavior of children.

Research Questions

The research is guided by the three basic questions that can help the researchers answer the main problem in disciplining children.

Ø What is discipline?

Ø What is its difference in abuse and punishment?

Ø Is spanking is another way of disciplining?

Literature Review

There are many definitions of discipline. In military, discipline is defined as training expected to produce a specific type or pattern of behavior or training that produces moral or mental improvement. Discipline is a method or methods of modeling character and of teaching self-control and to promote acceptable behavior (Papalia, Wendkos-Olds, and Duskin-Feldman, 2006). This is done through instruction and enforcement of an order is often matched with punishment, which is sometimes carried the negative side of discipline (Tourville, 2008).

Discipline is not punishment, although punishment is a type of discipline but this is the most popular ways of parents to their children. Punishment may involve spanking or hurtful words if a child failed to do certain task. Spanking happens when an adult or parents are angry and this definitely hurts the children physically and even emotionally. But sadly, most of the parents think that it’s the only thing that will work as a form of disciplining (Temke, 2002). Discipline is designed to help children control and change their behavior through encouragement and developing their moral, physical, intellectual, and sense of responsibility (Boone, 2009). On the other hand, abuse is the wrong practice, custom or maltreatment of an individual (Tourville, 2008). It may result in positive changes in children’s behavior but often temporarily and followed by hatred, anger, or revenge for the adults or parents. To avoid the abuse, children may lie or running away because parents and adults may not know, abuse can damage the self-esteem of the child and affect the relationship of the children and parents or adults (Boone, 2009).

Methodology

Through the interviews that detailing the safe and effective discipline, the strategy can be identified in providing correction to the best interest of the child. Parents, child welfare administrators and childcare personnel understand that as guardians, they should weigh and evaluate the methods of guiding the children. The key element is guidance and not punishment.

Analysis

It was identified that children are more aggressive and it appears natural to them and adults can hardly understand this behavior. Harsh parental discipline had a greater effect on the children and this appears on African Americans (Vazsonyi and Keiley, 2007). Discipline is considered as a form of teaching. Parents or guardian should nor set standards on children and clear all their expectations. In addition, they should set limitations and not totally disconnecting the child in the communicating with the people outside the family or organization (Temke, 2002). Discipline is about teaching and spanking or any other for of punishment will not help the children to build their self-image. As a guardian, they must provide the love and care that a child wants to feel.

Conclusion

There are more positive types of discipline that can teach self-control and establish confidence. It should only be done with appropriate actions (Tourville, 2008). Adults should remember that once in their life, they are also engaged in series of unpleasant behavior and therefore, it is expected that they are the one who can understand the ways of a child.

References:

Boone, E., 2009. Discipline vs. Abuse. [Online] Available at: http://www.ferry-county.com/Courts%20and%20Law/Sex%20Offender%20Info/Discipline_vs_Abuse.pdf. [Accessed 19 Jan 2010].

Papalia, D., Wendkos-Olds, S., & Duskin-Feldman, R., 2006. A Child’s World: Infancy Through Adolescence 10th Ed., New York: McGraw-Hill.

Temke, M., 2002. Single Parenting: Disciplining Children. [Online] Available at: http://extension.unh.edu/Family/Documents/s_discl.pdf. [Accessed 19 Jan 2010].

Tourville, B., 2008. Discipline versus Abuse, CAP Officer Basic Course. [Online] Available at: http://members.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/Discipline_Versus_Abuse_091230_7389F9624F39D.pdf. [Accessed 19 Jan 2010].

Vazsonyi, A., & Keiley, M., 2007. Normative Developmental Trajectories of Aggressive Behaviors in African American, American Indian, Asian American, Caucasian, and Hispanic Children and Early Adolescents. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, Vol. 35. [Online] Available at: http://www.statmodel.com/download/vazsonyikeiley.pdf. [Accessed 19 Jan 2010].