Skip to main content

What are the differences between discipline and punishment:

 -

One of the big challenges for both educators and parents is dealing with issues of discipline. Before we look at the reasons why children misbehave and what needs to be done to ensure self - disciplined children ,let us look at the differences between discipline and punishment. Sh Abdalla Idris from Canada reminded us that whilst discipline changes behaviour, punishment suppresses behaviour. Discipline is defined as the ability to train oneself to do those things that should be done and  resist those things that should be avoided.


What are the  differences between discipline and punishment:


1. Purpose: Discipline teaches and guides, while punishment penalizes and inflicts pain.

2. Approach: Discipline is proactive, while punishment is reactive.

3. Focus: Discipline focuses on the behaviour, while punishment focuses on the child.

4. Tone: Discipline is often calm and gentle, while punishment is often harsh and angry.

5. Outcome: Discipline leads to self-regulation, while punishment leads to compliance.

6. Method: Discipline uses positive reinforcement, while punishment uses negative consequences.

7. Relationship :Discipline strengthens relationships, while punishment can damage them.

8. Timing: Discipline is immediate and consistent, while punishment can be delayed and inconsistent.

9. Goal: Discipline aims to teach responsibility, while punishment aims to inflict pain.

10. Impact: Discipline promotes self-discipline, while punishment can lead to resentment.


In short, discipline is about teaching and guiding, while punishment is about penalizing and controlling.


It is important to understand  the reasons why children misbehave so that you can have a positive impact when disciplinary issues arise.


Why do children misbehave?


- Attention seeking

- Testing boundaries 

- Boredom

- Hunger or tiredness 

- Over-stimulation 

- Imitation

- Frustration or anger 

- Lack of communication skills 

- Seeking independence 

- Copying others 


- Developmental stages: They're still learning and growing, and some stages are messier than others 

- Lifestyle factors: Too much screen time, not enough sleep, or unhealthy food can contribute to crankiness

- Learning difficulties: Struggling in school can lead to frustration and acting out 

- Emotional regulation: They haven't mastered managing their feelings yet, so meltdowns happen 

- Modelling behavior: They learn from what they see, so if they're exposed to negative behaviour, they might mimic it 

- Social issues: Trouble with friends or feeling left out can cause problems 

- Trauma or stress: Some kids deal with really tough stuff, and it affects their behaviour 

- Lack of clear boundaries: If rules are inconsistent or unclear, kids might push limits 

- Seeking attention from parents: Sometimes, any attention is better than none, right? 

- Physical discomfort: Pain, discomfort, or medical issues can make them irritable 

- Overpraise or entitlement: Too much praise can create a sense of entitlement, leading to behavioral issues 

.

Here are some tips:


At Home:


1. Set clear expectations and rules

2. Use positive language and tone

3. Focus on the behaviour, not the child

4. Use natural consequences

5. Offer choices and involve them in problem-solving

6. Practice active listening and validate their feelings

7. Use physical touch like hugs to calm them down

8. Model good behaviour yourself


At School:


1. Establish a positive and respectful classroom environment

2. Use non-punitive discipline methods

3. Focus on restorative practices

4. Encourage empathy and self-reflection

5. Involve students in setting classroom rules

6. Use positive reinforcement and rewards

7. Provide support and accommodations for students with special needs

8. Communicate with parents and caregivers


Common principles:


1. Stay calm and patient

2. Be consistent and fair

3. Focus on teaching and guiding

4. Show empathy and understanding

5. Encourage self-regulation and self-awareness


Some specific strategies you can try:


- "Time-ins" instead of time-outs

- "I" statements instead of "you" statements

- Problem-solving together

- Offering apologies and making amends

- Practising mindfulness and self-care



Schools are often unsure as to what the discipline policy should be.In my travels I was very impressed with the merit/ demerit system that was implemented in Perth ,Australia at a Muslim School..It is based on the Islamic tradition of replacing your bad deed with a good dead.Learners have opportunities to redeem themselves.


Here are a few book recommendations on discipline:


- The Whole-Brain Child,by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson: A great resource for understanding child development and discipline.

- No-Drama Discipline by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson*: Practical strategies for calm and effective discipline.

- Positive Discipline by Jane Nelsen*: A classic in the field, with practical tips for parents and teachers.

- The Discipline Book by William Sears and Martha Sears*: A comprehensive guide to discipline and child development.

- Restorative Discipline by Lorraine Stutzman

 Amstutz and Judy H. Mullett: A great resource for schools looking to implement restorative practices.

- Collapse of Parenting by Leonard Sax.


These books offer a range of perspectives and strategies for discipline at home and at school.


Finally ,it is not  fortuitous that our beloved Prophet never beat any child.


Was - Salaam 


Edris Khamissa 

www.edriskhamissa.com 

Newsletter 5

--------

Source: received through WhatsApp message.

Authentication is not done by this blog. You can authenticate yourself, if there is any clarification.

Popular posts from this blog

How Going Bookless Transforms Student Learning:

- Eyes on the class, Not the Page: The Case for Bookless Teaching Let’s be honest: there’s a massive difference between a teacher who is locked into a textbook and one who is fully locked into the classroom. When we teach with our eyes glued to a page, we’re often just managing a script; but when we put the book down, the classroom instantly shifts from a formal lecture into a living, breathing conversation. It takes a little courage to step away from the safety net of printed chapters, but the payoff in raw student connection and active memory recall is unmatched. Going "bookless" in a classroom—whether you're the student or the teacher—is a bold move that shifts the energy from passive reading to active engagement.  While books are incredible resources, stepping away from them during a live session offers some unique psychological and social advantages. 1. Heightened Active Listening When there isn’t a text to follow along with, the brain is forced to process informatio...

The man who had never occupied a school desk spent nearly 11 years trying to build a classroom large enough for an entire republic:

Snippets:  - In 1948, Azad appointed the University Education Commission under S Radhakrishnan. Its work helped shape the University Grants Commission, constituted in 1953, and later given statutory status in 1956.  - Maulana Abul Kalam Azad's story is one of self-learning, nation-building, and institutions like IITs and AIIMS that he helped set up, that continue to shape generations of Indians. - Azad served as India's education minister from August 1947 until his death in February 1958. During his tenure, India established IIT Kharagpur, the UGC, the University and Secondary Education Commissions, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) etc - During his tenure, the central education budget rose from roughly Rs 2 crore to more than Rs 30 crore. - Azad did not see higher education as the privilege of the elites. He described basic education as the birthright of every individual and pressed for free and compulsory schooling, adult literacy, teacher training and greater...

Seven key differences between Parenting in India and Dutch:

 - A Dutch mother, Ivana, recently shared her experiences living in Mumbai for nine years, highlighting seven key differences between parenting in India. She emphasises that neither approach is "better" or "worse," but rather they involve different trade-offs.  Key Differences in Parenting: According to her viral reflections on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWJv7RLDM-z/), the primary contrasts include: * Community vs. Solo Marathon: In the Netherlands, parenting often feels like a "solo marathon". In Mumbai, she experiences a "real village" where family, neighbours, and the building community are always available to help. * Independence vs. Interdependence: Dutch culture raises children to be "fierceley independent," such as cycling to school alone at age eight. Indian parenting focuses on interdependence and being part of a larger, supportive system. * Child-Friendly Public Spaces: She notes that children in India are acce...

Click to read: We have together 850+ Articles, Videos and Resources:

Click below topic you want to read: ⬇️ Download Credence App if not yet downloaded: Browse, read through your area of interest and share the app with your connections.

Who is Sir Hajee Ismail Sait of Bangalore:

 - Fukhr-ut-Tojjar Sir Hajee Ismail Sait: A Legacy of Business and Philanthropy Fukhr-ut-Tojjar Sir Hajee Ismail Sait (1859-1934) was a prominent Indian businessman, philanthropist, and community leader who left an indelible mark on South India.  He was an Indian banker, businessman and community leader who served as a member of the Madras Legislative Council . Born in Periyakulam, Tamil Nadu, Sait's entrepreneurial journey began early, driven by a strong work ethic and a keen business acumen. A Business Empire Takes Shape Sait's first venture, the "English Warehouse," proved to be a resounding success, catering to the needs of the British community in Bangalore. His entrepreneurial spirit, however, did not limit him to a single venture. He diversified into a wide range of businesses, including mines, and manufacturing units. His astute business decisions saw him rise to become one of the wealthiest merchants in South India. Very quickly, Ismail Sait built on the succ...

Looking Deeper: How to Measure a School’s Holistic Success Before Admission:

 - # Beyond the Billboard: Why It’s Time to Stop Judging Schools by Their Toppers Every spring, city streets and newspaper pages light up with the same familiar sights: massive, gloss-printed billboards featuring a handful of smiling students who scored a 99% or clinched top ranks. For decades, these billboards have served as the ultimate marketing tool for educational institutions, and parents routinely queue up for admissions based entirely on these extreme outliers. But if we look past the flashing lights of the top 1%, a critical question remains: **What about the rest of the school?** When we judge an institution solely by its toppers, we mistake individual genius for institutional excellence. To understand the true health, equity, and capability of a school, both parents and educators need to change the metric of success. ## The Illusion of the Outlier Toppers are, by definition, statistical outliers. Often, these students possess a high degree of intrinsic motivation, strong...

Every Child’s Mind Can Grow: How We Learned to Protect and Nurture Young Minds:

 - For a long time, people believed that children were born with a set amount of intelligence that could never really change. If a child struggled to learn, it was often assumed to be something they were simply born with. Psychologist J. McVicker Hunt changed that mindset forever. He showed the world that a young child’s brain is not set in stone—it is flexible, growing, and deeply affected by the world around them. What a child hears, sees, and experiences in their earliest years can completely shape how their mind develops. ## What Happens When Young Minds Miss Out ? Hunt paid close attention to what happens when children grow up in tough environments without enough learning tools, books, or warm, interactive attention. He discovered that children raised without these basic early opportunities fell far behind in thinking and learning skills—not because they weren't capable, but because their brains were starving for stimulation. The most vital part of his discovery, however, was ...

The New Town called Fraser Town in 1914- amazing story of Bangalore's top locality-

- This information and the photo collection of Bangalore will fascinate you.  The New Town called Fraser Town in 1914.  The Plague was responsible for creation of Malleshwaram and Basavanagudi near Bengalooru Pete. Likewise Fraser Town was one of the new towns created in a older area called Mootoocherry near the St. John's Church to decongest the Cantonment due to the plague.   Pictures from Plague-proof Town Planning by J H Stephens 1914 & THE ‘UNINTENDED’ CITY: A Case for Re-reading the Spatialization of a Princely City through the 1898 Plague Epidemic.  Pic 1. Distant view of the town and the principal approach.  Pic 2 . View of a block of buildings in erection. Pic 3. Near View of Two Compound Cottages in Fraser Town Source: Received the information through whatsapp

School Library suggested list for Indian schools for classes 6th to 10th standard:

  ##  - Book Suggestions for a School Library in India for classes 6-10. Here are some book suggestions, focusing on core subjects and Indian languages, to enrich your school library:  1.  Works by renowned Indian authors in various languages (Hindi, english, regional languages etc.) 2. Language Reference Books:       * Dictionaries (English, Hindi, regional languages)       * Thesauruses       * Grammar books     * English communication books        * Writing guides      * Essay writing books   3. Science:       * Biographies of famous scientists (e.g., Einstein, Curie)       * Books on specific scientific topics (e.g., astronomy, biology, chemistry) 4. Mathematics:       * Mathematical puzzles and brain teasers       * History of mathematics       * Books on the practical applications of mathematic...

REOPENING THE SCHOOL- SOME SUGGESTIONS (Suggestions via- IIEP_UNESCO):

- The COVID19 pandemic has led to another crisis of reasonable ideas in order to resolve all sorts of emerging issues in front. Educational plannings in times of crisis seem to be another challenge because of the judgmental dilemma about the importance of education as well as health.  However, focusing on balancing the importance of both the aspects- education and health is focal. What and how implementable plannings could be done is the big question to be responded by most of the concerned authorities and stakeholders. Currently, school founders, principals, administrators and concerned heads are considering many ways to win this situation.  There are very key areas which the school leaders should consider- Finance, Infrastructure and Human resources. Here we are discussing some ideas and suggestions that have been addressed regarding the reopening of the schools (Please refer the full resource from UNESCO at the end of this article).  Image source: ChristopherSalem 1. F...