Discipline down the decades


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Turn of the last century - A “hitting and hurting” approach. Children’s spirits needed to be broken, to show respect to and fear of adults and to socialise them to take their place in the adult world.

1950’s and 1960’s - The emphasis was on “getting it right” as a parent. There was a “shame and blame” approach involving labelling, leaving to cry and character building sternness.

1970’s and 1980’s - A greater emphasis on feelings, emotions and instinct, leading to a more permissive approach by many parents. Use of isolation “time out” techniques became popular.

1990’s and 2000’s - A belief in firm and fair parenting, acknowledging the feelings of all in the family and striving for a balance in the extremes of child rearing fashions.


WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?
Our parenting ancestors would probably be as disapproving of our parenting styles as we may be of theirs. Whatever the future holds for discipline, it will be founded on some of the following learning points:

• Children need the love of good parents above anything else

• Many children who get into the most trouble lack affection not punishment

• Children are eager to learn if they are given appropriate age related tasks and are taught by understanding teachers

• Some jealous feelings towards siblings and angry feelings towards parents are natural and that a child does not need to feel ashamed of them

• Too harsh a repression of aggressive feelings and sexual interest may lead to neurosis’

• Unconscious thoughts are as influential as conscious ones

• Each child is an individual and should be allowed to be so.

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