Spare the Rod Keep the Discipline

People are so focused on "protecting" children that they are failing to discipline those children. This is sad since discipline is the best form of protection that you can give your children. Children need to be trained to display order and obedience appropriate to EVERY setting. This means that your child needs to know that there are rules everywhere which may differ from the rules that he or she is accustomed to. Even though those rules are different, they still must be followed. Your child needs to know that if those rules are not followed there are consequences that may differ from the consequences that he or she is used to. I am not saying that you have to be okay with consequence that you deem inappropriate for your child.

If you have a problem with the way another adult disciplines your child, it is your responsibility to talk to that adult about that IN PRIVATE. In addition to (and before) you talk to that adult about your issue, address the infraction that led to the discipline! More than likely, the adult who YOU entrusted your child's care to did not arbitrarily discipline your child. Your child did something wrong! Even if YOU don't think it's wrong, it was wrong in the setting that you left your child in. Children need to know that there are different rules EVERYWHERE and just because it's okay in one place (i.e. at your house) doesn't mean it's okay everywhere else.

As a child, I would tell my mom when adults disciplined me. Her FIRST question was always, "Well, what did you do?" Whether or not she had a problem with what they did was not what she chose to discuss with me; I think that was an excellent decision. Children should know that adults are backing each other up and they aren't going to play us against each other. 

The bottom line is, police can KILL your child if he or she breaks the rules: DON"T LET IT GET THAT BAD. Teach them early that there are rules everywhere, those rules may differ from the rules that you are accustomed to, if those rules are broken then there will be consequences, and those consequences may differ from the consequences that you are used to.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

verb (used with object)

10.

to train by instruction and exercise; drill.

11.

to bring to a state of order and obedience by training andcontrol.

12.

to punish or penalize in order to train and control; correct;chastise.