All parents face moments when punishment seems to be the only option for disciplining a child. One of the common methods is to send the child to a corner where he is supposed to "cool down" and think about his behavior. But what at first glance seems like a harmless and effective educational technique can have long-term consequences that affect the child's ability to cope with life's challenges even in adulthood.
Australian psychologist Kerwin Rae, who is known, among other things, for his work in the field of parenting, warns that sending children into a corner is a method that brings only short-term results. According to him, with such a method of punishment, parents do not teach the child how to deal with his emotions, but instead encourage him to withdraw into himself and avoid conflicts. Rae points out that children who are often punished by being sent to a corner can develop into adults who will avoid confrontation and discussion instead of talking and solving problems.
Consigning it to a corner: A short-term solution with long-term consequences
In his paper, Rae explains that sending a child to a corner may calm the situation temporarily, but the consequences of this educational method only become apparent later. "When you send a child to a corner, you get a short-term peace, but by the time they're 14, you'll realize you're raising an emotionally immature person," she says. Rae. In such situations, the child learns to avoid conflict and not express his feelings, which leads to emotional alienation and the inability to face life's challenges (source: The Sun).
Parents divided over method of punishment
The method of sending to the corner, however, is still very popular among parents. Some parents believe that it is an effective technique that helps the child to control his emotions and calm down. "By sending the child to the corner, I set a healthy boundary," says one parent. However, experts like Rae warn that such an approach can be harmful if used too often and without proper post-sentence debriefing. Rae advises that after punishing a child, parents should always have a dialogue to help them understand their feelings and behavior.
Alternative methods of education: Communication instead of punishment
In response to criticism of the cornering method, Rae recommends that parents focus on communicating with their children instead of punishing them. Instead of punishing the child, encourage him to talk about his feelings and behavior. "Parents should teach their children how to deal with their emotions and conflicts, not simply suppress them," advises Rae. "This is the only way we can raise emotionally mature adults who will not be afraid of facing life's challenges.
Conclusion: What can we learn from this discussion?
Although punishment is a commonly used method of disciplining children in childhood, sending children to the corner seems to do more harm than good. Parents should think about the long-term consequences of such behavior and consider alternative parenting methods based on communication and understanding. With this, we can help the child develop healthy mechanisms for dealing with conflicts and emotions, which will benefit him throughout his life.
