Punishment Is Necessary To Help Children Learn The Difference Between Right And Wrong

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Children often commit acts that are cruel or immoral but they do not always realize that what they have done is wrong or unacceptable. Some people argue that punishing children is the best way to make them realize the distinction between right and wrong. While I am not an advocate of harsh forms of punishment, in my opinion, some children certainly need some forms of punishment to learn to behave.

It is important for children to realize their mistakes; otherwise, they will grow up into adults who pose a threat to the wellbeing of the society. On the other hand, if they are taught the difference between right and wrong from an early age, they are more likely to become conscientious adults who care for others.

Simply asking children to behave well or do good does not always help. While some children might listen to advice, there are many others who need a deterrent. For example, in Shanghai, I often find children abusing their pets. Their parents explain to them that it is wrong again and again.  However, some children still do not mend their ways and think it is fun to be cruel to animals. In such situations, it is essential to give them some punishment so that they do not repeat the offending behaviour. When I say punishment I am not talking about corporal punishment like hitting or smacking. Parents must definitely refrain themselves from handing out such punishment to children. Instead, they can choose not to allow children to play with their favourite toy or make them sit alone until they want to behave well.  This kind of punishment can help young children realize the consequence of doing the wrong thing and they will think twice before committing the same mistake again.

To draw things to a close, teaching children to learn the difference between right and right will help them to become good citizens in the future and thus lead to a decrease in the crime rate. Hence, in my opinion, parents and teachers should be allowed to use some gentle punishments to help children behave well.