How punishments and consequences affect the body and mind

Let’s face it…Parenting can be a real challenge in the face of a child who keeps doing or saying things you don’t like.

The path I see most parents take is the following:

Try to stay calm and convince the child to do what you want them to do.

Child doesn’t listen and/or is defiant.

Parent’s blood starts to boil.

Parent yells, threatens a consequence and/or gives a punishment.

Child fights back and eventually ends up crying, hateful, or pretty shutdown and disconnected.

Parent feels a lot of guilt for over-reacting and/or is seething in resentment for having such an annoying child who doesn’t listen!

So, why does this always happen? And why is it so hard to change this reactive pattern?

If you haven’t listened to my podcast with Sarah Rosensweet on exactly why this happens, then you can listen here on The Peaceful Parenting Podcast or find it anywhere you listen to your podcasts.

But what happens to a child when we, as parents, continue to use punishments and consequences?

Unfortunately, there are detriments to our child’s biology and mental health when we use punitive ways to deter them from doing “bad” things or attempt to have them “learn a lesson”.

Below is a recent video chat I did with Sarah Rosensweet discussing what happens from both a psychological and biological perspective when we use punishments and consequences and why using peaceful limits is a much better way to help kids learn a better way to behave.

You can also listen to this chat on her Peaceful Parenting Podcast here.

If you’re interested in learning more about Sarah’s course: Transform Your Family Life in 90 Days, you can check it out here.

Or you can also catch one more episode of her FREE Workshop: "Peaceful Discipline: What To Do Instead of Yelling, Threats and Consequences" you can sign up here.