When a child is younger and a quick spanking is needed to get his attention, or to even make the point that he is being punished for improper behavior, these sorts of quick power-affirming measures can be quite effective. Once the child becomes a teenager, however, they no longer are the appropriate method to employ in an effort to effectively discipline your child.

To begin with it is important to understand the difference between discipline and punishment. Punishment is the power to force your power on your child when he acts inappropriately. Discipline, on the other hand, has as its central goal to educate and train your child regarding the consequences that naturally follow their behavior.

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Discipline is actually a measure undertaken to reinforce that your child accept the consequences of his behavior that he grows up to be responsible in the world in which he is placed.

Because so many teenagers reach this age attempting to shut out their parents more and more, the parents find themselves resorting to punishment over discipline as it tends to refocus their attention.

At this age teenagers desire more freedom and time to explore their growing social lives. When access to these freedoms is put in jeopardy due to their behavior the teenager is more apt to pay close attention to what you have to say. Therefore when a teenager doesn’t behave according to expectations – for example not completing their homework – then taking away or limiting these freedoms is an excellent way of both gaining their attention and teaching them through discipline how the consequences of their actions are a natural part of life.