The issue is not punishment or no punishment, it's boundaries. You can enforce discipline and teaching without punishing as the poker chips and hitting poster did, but it took time, as she said, and some effort on the part of her and her partner. Too many parents confuse "no punishment" with "no boundaries" and allow their children to behave terribly without putting a boundary on it in any way, either because they're too lazy or have come to believe that boundaries are a negative. They're not. Boundaries make good kids and good adults.

I'll be honest and say I had no idea how much hideous behavior parents were putting up with - and allowing - till I came here and read all the "my kid hits and spits and calls me names" post. Good grief.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Heh.

I don't like this guy because we don't punish, but we don't do praise, either.

See also: Alfie Kohn.

+1

I don't do rewards, praise, *or* punishment.

+100! I don't praise, punish, reward, or express any positive or negative emotion at all to my child! I keep things totally neutral.

are you raising a child or a robot? Bizarre.