II. Definition
- Scolding to eliminate a child's undesirable behavior
III. Precautions
- Never use during a Time-Out
- Never shout
- Direct reprimand specifically at behavior
- Do not attack your child's character
IV. Key components of a reprimand
- Stop the behavior (e.g. Stop pinching)
- Why your child should stop (e.g. pinching hurts)
- Provide alternative (e.g. ask nicely for the toy)
V. Efficacy
- Decreases negative behavior in the short-term
- Only effective if used infrequently
- If used indiscriminately then will reinforce behavior
- Not effective when used as only Discipline method
VI. References
- Wyckoff (1984) Discipline without Shouting, p. 8
- Banks (2002) Am Fam Physician 66(8):1447-52 [PubMed]
- Stein (1998) Pediatrics 101(4 Pt 1):723-8 [PubMed]