As a parent, it can be confusing to know the right way to parent and discipline your child. Parenting experts, government agencies and physicians may each have different ideas of which type of discipline is best, but only you as a parent can decide which type will be most effective for your child. Understanding exactly what each type of discipline entails can give you greater insight into which type is right for you and your family.
Strict
Strict discipline is based around the use of rules and punishment. A child has a strict set of rules that he is to follow, and failure to follow those rules results in swift punishment. All of the decisions are made by the parents, with little input from the child. Strict disciplinary methods are often used by parents who feel the need to control their children, notes Deborah Richardson, child development assistant specialist at Oklahoma State University.
Positive
Positive discipline is a different approach to childhood discipline and is backed by the American Academy of Family Physicians. Through positive discipline, instead of trying to discourage inappropriate behavior through punishment, good behavior is facilitated through praise and reward. A person who follows positive discipline strives to gently encourage her child to behave better without harsh punishments or rules.
Permissive
In a permissive disciplinary environment, the rules, regulations and standards of behavior are made entirely by the children. A permissive parent doesn't choose how his child behaves as much as he allows it, notes the Canadian Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Permissive discipline may be utilized by parents who believe in childhood free will. Parents who feel guilty about the treatment of their children might also follow permissive parenting to make up for parenting skills that may be lacking.
Neglect
Some parents feel it is best to simply ignore bad behavior to discipline a child. Neglect can be seen as a form of abuse, depending on the extent that it is used, notes Richardson. A parent who neglects her child's basic needs like food and clothing as a way to discipline is guilty of abuse. Though ignoring your child's behavior may be effective on a small scale, your child needs your attention to grow and flourish as a functioning member of society.
Abusive
Corporal discipline is often hotly debated among parents. Though some believe spanking is fine, others will argue there is a fine line between spanking and physically abusing your child. What's more, abuse can be verbal as well; telling your child she isn't worthy, talking down or insulting her can often do as much damage as a slap to the face. Parents who endorse corporal punishment must learn to bridle their own tempers; too often a child is spanked as a quick reaction to a bad behavior instead of a carefully studied method of discipline, notes PsychPage.com.
