Punishing Kids Is Hypocritical & Counterproductive

Reductio ad absurdum: Respectful parenting is not permissive parenting

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Allowing our children choices is neither reckless nor permissive.

Ensuring our children have autonomy within developmentally-appropriate bounds is an important way for them to hone their decision-making skills. Hovering over them, micro-managing, and controlling their every move robs kids of important learning opportunities.

Expecting kids to do everything we say whenever we say it, simply because we’re the parents and they’re children, is reckless. This sets kids up for being very easily influenced by peers, and worse, puts children in danger of being manipulated by other adults in their lives.

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Reductio ad absurdum

“We can’t cater to their every whim and let kids do whatever they want!”

This is a form of argument called reductio ad absurdum, wherein someone takes a concept to its extremes in an attempt to refute or disprove it.

I promise you, I don’t allow my 9 year old to drive my car, even though he’d like…