Smith, Anne B. "How Do Infants and Toddlers Learn the Rules?

Family Discipline and

Young Children." International Journal of Early Childhood: Journal of Omep:

Lorganisation Mondiale Pour Leducation Prescolaire. 36.2 (2004): 27-41. Print.

The author, Dr. Anne Smith, displays good credibility and strong feelings for the

topic of child psychology, thus establishing good credibility of the source. Dr. Smith

earned a bachelor of arts in health sciences from the University of Otago in New

Zealand and also earned her MD-PhD, a doctorate in both medicine and philosophy.

She is also a fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand, an organization that funds,

promotes, and supports research and excellence in the fields of science and

technology. Dr. Smith was awarded the Marion Langer Award from the American

Orthopsychiatric Association for her research, developments, and promotion of

advocacy for children. Dr. Smith appears to be well versed in child psychology and a

reputable source to use.

Dr. Smiths article focus mainly on the effects of punishment on young children

along with reasons for these effects. She also gives the aspects of effective discipline.

She first begins by explaining the difference between discipline and punishment. She

states that discipline is different from punishment because discipline focuses on

teaching the child how to act where punishment does not. She states that positive

discipline teaches the child what is correct and acceptable behavior while negative

disciple uses the possibility of punishment to achieve obedience.

One of Dr. Smiths major points is that a childs surroundings and possible role

models play a large role in their behavioral development. The use of continual

punishment does not teach a child what is right and it also degrades the parent-child
relationship that is needed for effective parenting. A child that despises their parent will

not adhere to the lessons trying to be taught and wont improve behaviorally. This is why

working to develop a childs internal control is more important than trying to gain

immediate obedience from corporal punishment. Instructing a child on how to act and

giving reasons for discipline will help build their knowledge of right and wrong and help

them internalize it. The better a child can control their behaviors, the less external

influence required to keep their behavior in check, thus helping preserve the parent-

child relationship.

Dr. Smith then moves on to how corporal punishment negatively affects children.

She proposes that the only way for corporal punishment to be useful is if it immediately

follows the undesired behavior and is intense enough to stop it immediately. It is also

necessary for the administering disciplinarian not to be angry to prevent over punishing

the child. She also states that punishment however, is not an effective form of long term

discipline. If corporal punishment is used for long periods of time it can instill negative

and aggressive behaviors in the child such as aggressive and antisocial behavior,

violence, low academic achievement, and depression and anxiety.

She then gives the six guidelines for effective discipline such as, parental warmth

and involvement, clear communication, induction and explanation, rules and

boundaries, consistency and consequences, and context and structure.

Positive consequences like praise or extra treats strengthen appropriate

behavior, and mild punishment such as timeout or withdrawal of privileges

discourage inappropriate behavior.

 The article was quite easy to read and comprehend and had a good flow of

thought. The author is a clear advocator against the use of corporal punishment,

but she does not outright brand it as completely awful and horrendous. She gives

the other side of the argument some voice, but in return gives a rebuttal to back

up her point of view. This source brings in another well credited voice and offers

good opinions I could use as discussion in my thesis.