Tag Archives: praise and punishment

Spoil the Rod, Spare the Child

Posted on June 10, 2013 by

Reblogged from "A Beautiful Place of the World": I feel a little funny posting about this — like, “surely everyone has figured this out” — but I have seen a number of posts on other peoples’ blogs, lately, about whether or … Continue reading →

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The Continuing Adventures of the EP Soccer Family

Posted on April 29, 2013 by

Well, it feels kind of official now — we’re driving the minivan (Syliva Brown McTague), and we actually have a soccer player in it. The consummate icon of modern parenting — the Soccer Mom — has been somehow grafted onto … Continue reading →

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Time-Outs Aren't Worth Your Time

Posted on April 8, 2013 by

Reblogged from "A Beautiful Place of the World": I’ve noticed in several different places on the internet in the last couple of weeks various writers, parenting experts, and parents, discussing the proper use of time-outs. And I just have to … Continue reading →

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(Back to) the Basics V: Who’s the Boss

Posted on January 23, 2013 by

Today, I want to return to this (increasingly in-depth!) series on basic tools, perspectives, and approaches for Natural Parenting, Attachment Parenting, Cro-Magnon Parenting — whatever your favorite monicker. Before I do that, though, here are links to all of the … Continue reading →

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Shakespearian Parenting Advice

Posted on September 19, 2011 by

Wow! What an insanely busy couple of weeks I’ve just had — way, way busier than I like to be, unless it’s busy in the yard, or busy playing! I’ve now reached that light at the end of the proverbial … Continue reading →

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“Encouragement!”

Posted on July 22, 2011 by

A week or so ago, Natalie and I watched the 2009 movie Couple’s Retreat with Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman and a few other recognizable faces, including (though less recognizably) Carlos Ponce as the tantric yoga instructor, Salvadore, who teaches the … Continue reading →

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The Trust Equation

Posted on May 25, 2011 by

Today, I wanted to present you with a simple parenting algebra equation to derive trust. It says that the trust our kids feel in us is directly proportional to the product of three variables: a) our trust in ourselves as … Continue reading →

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Being is not a Behavior

Posted on April 26, 2011 by

Last week, I posted about time-outs and the disservice I think they do to parent-child relations, and to children’s sense of security, as well as, the miserable failure of time-outs to effectively teach children anything about how we would prefer … Continue reading →

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Time-Outs Aren’t Worth Your Time

Posted on April 20, 2011 by

I’ve noticed in several different places on the internet in the last couple of weeks various writers, parenting experts, and parents, discussing the proper use of time-outs. And I just have to say, the only necessary or effective use of … Continue reading →

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Parentisms: Children are not Football Teams

Posted on March 31, 2011 by

Goal obsession, competition,  performance pressure, roaring praise, penalties, and time-outs… No, these aren’t the key words for a Google search on professional football. These are methods commonly espoused by “parenting experts” for raising our children. In Western society, at least, we … Continue reading →

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Training Wheels for Toddler Negotiations

Posted on September 6, 2010 by

As an additional part to the previous posts on the subject, I wanted to spend a little time discussing how to handle avoiding praise, punishment, and other coercive methods with little ones who are not yet developmentally capable of carrying … Continue reading →

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Rehab for Praise-aholics

Posted on August 31, 2010 by

So let’s say you’re “open” to the idea of not using any punishment or praise with your child(ren)… My guess is, with any sincerity, you will find it easier than you now think possible to switch from auto-piloting through various threats … Continue reading →

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Without a Net

Posted on August 27, 2010 by

Thus far, I think I’ve only mentioned this in passing — (drum roll, please) — Natalie and I do not use any praise with our girls, nor any punishment.  Recent themes of the parenting blogosphere remind me that this is … Continue reading →

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