What's the difference between "punishing" and "disciplining"

@manong05 (5027)
Philippines
February 21, 2007 12:29am CST
as far as children are concerned? Is it purely semantics? interchangeable? I am not a native english speaker but I think they are two completely different matters.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@thyst07 (2079)
• United States
21 Feb 07
Here's the difference as I see it: Discipline is teaching a child that there are consequences for actions- positive consequences for right actions, and negative ones for wrong actions. Discipline is carried out calmly and fairly, and the child should understand why he or she is being given the consequence. Punishment occurs out of anger- the child does something that makes you angry, so you react out of anger and do something to get back at them or show them who's boss. Punishment often borders on abuse, because the parent is not necessarily thinking rationally about what is fair.
@manong05 (5027)
• Philippines
21 Feb 07
So if the parents are always calm and always in control of their tempers, punishment is something that can be done away it. Cheers!
@lilaclady (28206)
• Australia
21 Feb 07
Disciplining think is something you teach children along the way, Punishing is something that you do to children that have already done something wrong. Just my opinion
@manong05 (5027)
• Philippines
21 Feb 07
So like the above posting, discipline is more of teaching the child what is right and what is wrong and punishment is something that parents do to the children in the event that they did something wrong. Cheers.
@suman76 (648)
• India
21 Feb 07
Child can only be punished when he/she is not obeying or going as per the discipline. It is our duty to teach the disciplaine to the child . One should only do the mistake when he does not know the discipline of the life.
@manong05 (5027)
• Philippines
21 Feb 07
So for you, discipline is more of a set of rules that the child should know and once violated deserves to be punished.