Positive Parenting
“Punishment” Does. Not. Work.
And it’s particularly ineffective with neurodivergent kids.
Bear with me. Before you read the title and dismiss the premise, I am not advocating for a permissive style of parenting, and I am not suggesting that children shouldn’t have boundaries.
Boundaries vs. Punishment
The difference is that boundaries and discipline are about teaching, whereas punishment is about retribution.
Punishment often includes shaming and blaming which can really harm our children’s self-worth. Causing children to feel shame about their behaviour without giving them the skills or tools to do better will likely lead to worsening behaviour.
“Shame is the most disabling learning disability.”
— Hallowell & Ratey
More concerning, children may internalize the messages they receive about themselves, either directly or indirectly, which leads to a self-fulfilling prophecy (“well, they say I’m a bad kid, so what’s the point in even trying?”).
