Sometimes it seems that punishing a child is a whole lot easier
than taking the time to think of a natural consequence to teach
a lesson. It’s just so easy to say “Go up to your room and stay
there until dinnertime!” Grounding is another favorite
punishment, but what do those two particular punishments
actually teach? Being sent to one’s room or being grounded both
communicate parental dissatisfaction with a particular behavior.
But, will either punishment actually give your child the
opportunity to work through and fix his mistake the way that a
natural consequence would? What is a natural consequence for a
teen who stays out an hour after he is to be home? Perhaps he
should not be allowed out the next time he is invited to be with
friends, and the next time after that, he should have to come
home one hour earlier than his usual curfew. Those are two
natural consequences that will have meaning, impact, and teach a
lesson. They allow that teen to earn back parental trust by
coming home on time. What do you do