Child Training and Discipline

Child Training and Discipline


by Pastor Art Kohl

I. The Example of the Heavenly Father

Write down your observations of God's actions toward His Children. Also look up any big words you don't completely understand and write out its definition. It's important to do this. Use a dictionary. Use King James Bible AV1611



Deuteronomy 8:5
Psalms 94:12
Proverbs 3:11-12
I Corinthians 11:31-32
Hebrews 12:5-11
Revelation 3:19


II. The Instruction of the Word of God

Write down your observations of God's direction and wisdom in parenting and disciplining children. Again write out the definitions of any words you do not know using a dictionary. The older the dictionary you find the better.



Proverbs 13:24
Proverbs 22:15
Proverbs 23:13
Proverbs 23:14
Proverbs 29:15
Proverbs 29:17


(Add to this list sometime a study on Proverbs 17:21, 17:25, 19:13 and 28:7. Write out your observations on another sheet of paper.)



III. Further Instructions & Common Sense Regarding Child Discipline

1. Child abuse and child discipline are opposites. Discipline is an act of love and concern for the long run of a child's life. Abuse is an act of anger, aggression, disdain of hate.



2. Never discipline another persons child without the express permission or instruction of the child's parents to do so.



3. Never spank a child when angry. Make sure the child knows and understands what they did that was wrong and why they are being corrected. Do not surprise the child. Make it a planned event and something you do as a parent that is intentional and well thought out. Be calm and in control of yourself and emotions.



4. Never spank a child anywhere but on the glutemus maximus muscles (buttocks, rear end). Never hit a child on the face, neck, head, back, stomach, chest, front or back of the legs. These could cause injury to internal organs, brain or developing limbs. Never shake a child or grab them by the throat. Be careful when spanking the child that you do not come near the backbone as this is also is also developing at this stage in life.



5. Use a paddle of smooth wood that is not too thick and has a handle designed to fit your hand so it won't slip. Do not us a belt or razor strap as these may cause welts of open sores. Biblically a rod is a branch or stick or twig from a tree.



6. Try not to use your hands. Reserve these as instruments of love. Only use your hand to slap the back of a child's hand after you have carefully told them not to touch something or throw food on the floor, etc. Never surprise the child with a strike. They will fear you the wrong way.



7. Proper discipline trains the mind of the child that the crime is not worth the correction. You have not disciplined the child enough or incorrectly if they keep committing the crime. When a child begins to make right decisions based on the principle: "The crime is not worth the correction", we call that character. We have been successful in our discipline. We have corrected the child. It's not corporal punishment, but corporal correction we are aiming for.



8. Parenting is more love than it is spanking (although spanking is part of love). But if you find yourself constantly spanking the child over and over again for the same crime there is something wrong in your parenting. Stop! You are doing something wrong. You are either "under-loving" the child or "over-disciplining" the child or improperly disciplining him. Proper discipline and parenting should not discourage a child or make them angry, but broken in will and spirit. They should know and be told that you love them and be told so and also told that this is why you are correcting them.



Ephesians 6:4
Colossians 3:21




9. Never permit a child to say "No" to you as a parent. This is neither cute nor funny. This is rebellion, period. Nip it in the bud. Stop it immediately. Spank them as often as is needed until their character tells them, "I'm not going to say 'no' to my parents anymore, it's not worth it." Demand and expect instant obedience. 10. Spank the child on the bare bottom if possible. At least remove the diaper if they are small. There is usually enough power in the snap of an adults wrist to administer a spank that will not be forgotten soon. You do not have to take a full swing like with a tennis racket. Make sure their hands are out of the way. Have them bend over your knee or against a table or chair. Let the number of spanks be done one at a time and deliberately, not fast and furious. Let them "soak in" one at a time. The object is to SAFELY inflict enough pain so the child will decide they will not commit the crime again.



REMEMBER: Successful child discipline is to break the child's will without destroying the child's spirit. It is training our child's mind to instinctively make the right decisions when faced with the prospect of doing wrong.