I recently made a video on my YouTube channel for Family Friendly Daddy Blog where I asked everyone for help, tongue-in-cheek, about what I should do since it is normal for parents to spank their children, yet I never have, explaining that my children are known for how well-behaved they are.
Even just this past week, my 7 year-old son was invited to go to Chili’s with another boy his age in our neighborhood. The first thing the boy’s dad told my wife and I when they returned from dinner was this:
“Your son is so well-behaved! I’m not used to that. Usually, I’m spending my time getting the boys to settle down. But I never had any issues with your son as the friend my son chose to take along! He’s great!”
And for both all of Kindergarten and 1st grade, whenever the teachers have given us feedback it’s always the same:
“He is a very well-behaved boy. And smart, too! Yes, I have to remind him not to talk to his friends during class at times, but he truly is a model student.”
As for my daughter, she just turned 2 years old, but she is also known for being a bright, yet mild-mannered little girl.
So here’s the question:
Is it just a coincidence that both of my children are known for their good behavior; and as their parents, my wife nor I have ever spanked them?
It raises the question of how necessary spanking actually is:
If what I’ve been doing as a parent has yielded a well balanced, well behaved children, what is the point of spanking them?
But if I’m not spanking my children in order to get them to behave, then what am I doing? Because, no, my kids were not just born with some magic gene where they automatically know how to behave.
And granted, they still require much teaching and direction regarding how to behave. But I provide that for them, instead of physically striking them. I accept they are still kids, too.
So I don’t freak out when my son leaves a note on the couch for his sister, with a picture of her with an “x” through it, saying, “go home away“.
The way I see it, it’s not a matter so much of disciplining my children. Instead, it’s about proactively managing their physical, social, and psychological needs.
It’s a simple 5 step program that I invented years ago. When a young child is perceived to be “misbehaving”, I recognize they don’t yet have the emotional intelligence to verbally communicate what they really need. I interpret that “misbehavior” as a predictable signal or warning to the parent that they are at least one of the following:
Hungry
Tired
Bored
Lonely
Sick
So as their parent, I am constantly prepared to feed my children, help them get to sleep, find a way for them to entertain themselves, socialize with them, or restore them to good health.
It’s true that my method isn’t the norm. Only 20% of parents worldwide are like me, in that they don’t spank their children.
I’m okay with not being normal. Especially if my kids are known for being well-behaved without having to hit them.
Here’s the question that I want to close with:
Is it a coincidence I’ve never spanked my children and yet they are known for how well behaved they are? Or am I on to something with my simple 5 step program?
Family Friendly Daddy Blog 