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Experts offer these tips to parents on how to discipline children: Ask your child to do what is reasonable. Realize that discipline is to teach not to punish. Speak to a child in the way you would want someone to speak to you. Be clear about what you mean, be firm, and be specific. Model the behavior you want them to copy. Sometimes, let the children experience the consequences of their behavior. Make sure the discipline is fair and fits the child’s age. The book of Proverbs urges parents to discipline their children to shape their character. We read in Proverbs 13:24, “Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.” In Proverbs 19:18 we read, “Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives.’ And Proverbs 23:14, “Don’t fail to discipline your children. Physical discipline may save them from death.” The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 6:4 gives this instruction to parents about discipline: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.” Antisocial behavior in our society comes from people who lack moral values. Conveying those values occurs best when people are young. So families and churches must teach and model character values very early in life.
