Punishment vs. Discipline

Punishment: Is an unpleasant consequence for doing or not doing something.

Purpose: To punish is to decrease the likelihood that the bad behavior will occur again.

Outcome: Results in children learning what behavior their parents consider unacceptable and leads to a decrease in that behavior.


Discipline: A method of guiding children that helps them learn how to control their own behavior.

Purpose: To help children learn to make good decisions on their own.

Outcome: Effective discipline results in children who feel secure, responsible and loved; and confident in their ability to make good decisions.