<p> Mid-Columbia Parenting What is the Most Effective Discipline Program? (Pros and Cons of Punishment-Based Program versus Natural Consequence Program) *Punishment-Based Program Natural Consequence-Based Program Advantages Disadvantages Advantages Disadvantages  Quick short-term behavior  Not effective for long-term behavior building or  Lasting long-term behavior  Takes more upfront modification modification building and modification time and energy  Takes less upfront time and  Discourages parent/child communication  Focus is on what’s RIGHT  Takes more planning energy  Less likelihood of close relationship with parent with the child, instead of  Less planning needed as child grows what’s WRONG  Focus is on what’s WRONG with the child,  Promotes parent/child instead of what’s RIGHT communication  Increased social & emotional problems for child  Child more likely to have  Impacts Self-Identity & Self-Value close relationship with parent  Often results in criticism of the child and not  Child more likely to be the performance socially & emotionally  Often results in negative self-talk healthy  Removes the focus of both the “punisher” and  Increased Self-Identity & “punished” from the behavior in question Self-Value  Focuses anger on the “punisher”, leading to  Focus is on the behavior and poor relationship over time not a “punisher” or  Punishment-induced behavior “extinguishes” punishment rapidly…only short term.  No punishment schedule for  Traps the “punisher” into maintaining the parent to spend time and punishment schedule, leading to expending energy on much time and energy.  Teaches accountability  Does not teach accountability.  Allows child to experience  Denies a child the right to experience the real the real consequence of their consequence of their actions. actions.  Gives parent and child the false impression that once the punishment schedule is completed, the issue is resolved * Punishment is defined here as any artificially-created consequence for a given behavior. The listed advantages and disadvantages are especially true for physical punishment of any type or degree, but many of them are also valid for the more minor punishments like grounding, sending to the bedroom, removal of privileges, withholding of allowance, timeout, etc. Of course, balancing punishment with love and affection can minimize the negative impacts of some punishments, and the effect will vary with each child; however, Mid-Columbia Parenting and the Bledsoe program believe strongly that artificially-created punishment is much less effective than focusing on and learning from the natural consequences. punishment versus natural consequences.doc</p>