Asian parents are known to discipline children with punishments that may seem heavy to others. These punishments are not for nothing if they are helpful in raising a disciplined child. However, Asian parenting styles range from lenient to extremely strict. Here are a few examples of punishments and the good and bad of each.
Non-Physical Punishments
It may be rather common for misbehaving children to face the consequence where their parents take a privilege away from them or make them go through something torturing. This includes the confiscation of smartphone, restriction of Internet use, no dinner for the night, sleeping in the bathroom for a night or kneeling at the house entrance for 3 hours.
You think some of those punishments can’t be real, don’t you? Well sorry to break it to you but they are very real as it used to be how my own cousin brother was disciplined by his father. The poor boy was forced to spend a night in the bathroom and to kneel for hours once for disobeying and talking back.
This is a good example of extreme punishments that could scar or traumatise a child for life. It may be effective as it instills fear in the child. However, it is not ideal because the child will not grow to respect but fear you instead. It is not possible to have a good relationship with your child if this is how you raise him/her.
Other punishments such as the confiscation of smart device and the restriction of Internet use may be good enough to teach your child a lesson. As they treasure those privileges, it most likely will torment them for prohibiting the use of those gadgets or access to entertainment.
Physical Punishments
It is even more common when Asian children suffer from physical punishments like caning, spanking, whipping and more through the use of a rattan cane, clothes hanger or belt. More and more countries are trying to implement the act to ban corporal punishment. Their reason being that these punishments could affect a child’s mental and emotional development.
This is where the difference between a punishment and abuse have been confused. Parents do not just cane their kids for no reason at all. It should be understood that children can get very annoying and stubborn at times. Sometimes the only way to discipline and make them listen is by punishing them to make sure they’re aware that some actions will bring consequences.
If punishments like this are not carried out, children may just think that they can get away with anything and this is exactly what parents are trying to prevent. These punishments would be effective as children will learn to fear them and avoid having to go through them. However, this does not mean that parents should think it’s alright to go crazy on their child.
Punishments like this should mean an adequate amount of caning or spanking that is just enough to get your message across. One that is enough to let them know what they did was wrong and should they repeat it, they would have to go through the same punishment again. For example, if your child refuses to do their homework despite your warning, caning their palm a few times may suffice.
The point is that parents should carry out punishments to correct your child’s behaviour because you love them and not to take your anger out on them.
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