1. Positive Discipline vs Punishment

 Punishment is often misunderstood as being synonymous with discipline; however, they are quite different from each other. Punishment involves controlling a child's behavior by instilling fear. The message commonly received by a child is that they need to be more cautious, rather than understanding that the behavior was not okay. This results in the responsibility being on the adult, always overlooking the child’s behavior, rather than the child taking accountability for making better choices.

On the other hand, positive discipline allows adults to teach and guide children to understand and practice self-control and make intelligent choices with regard to their behavior. Positive discipline requires an adult to be stern; however, it allows children to learn what is acceptable and provides them with the knowledge and capabilities to make good decisions, guiding them in making those decisions in respectful, loving ways with consequences suitable to their age. (Slim, 2013)

2. Emotional Support and Attachment

Various emotions and reactions can be illustrated, along with healthy coping tools, which allow and encourage children to express what they are thinking. This is critical, as young minds with increased levels of emotional intelligence tend to be empathetic and encouraging toward others, possess good mental well-being, build solid and positive connections, and perform well during their school life and later in their careers. (Sword, R, 2021)

3. Encouraging Independence

Encouraging children to make their own daily decisions and empowering them, starting with simple tasks such as choosing what they want to wear or selecting their bedtime story, fosters confidence. This action highlights the importance of decision-making and understanding its outcomes, allowing children to become informed when making important decisions later in life. Each choice encourages independence and accentuates the significance of their actions.

Allocating responsibilities to children, such as caring for a pet or tending to a plant, strengthens their understanding of accountability. Making a conscious effort to acknowledge and commend their efforts and achievements promotes a sense of fulfilment and validation, and acts as a constant reminder that dedication leads to success. (UNIS Communication Team, 2023)