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These Times They Are A Changing

These Times They Are Changing:
Strict Parenting is a Risk
In the movie Pleasantville (1998), starring Reese Witherspoon and Tobey McGuire, two siblings find themselves inside their television in a black and white 1950’s “Leave It to Beaver” style television show where everyone is innocent and very old-fashioned. When they do something wrong, color starts showing up and they wonder if maybe they were more partial to life before the 90’s. This movie reminds me a lot of our world today, because our society is one that is constantly changing every second. Just as the face of our planet is growing and changing, so is everyone living on it. We are becoming accustomed to our new changing lifestyles, therefore why can’t we change our parenting skills according to changes in our children? Parents that are applying the way they were raised to the way they raise their children is why today’s youth are so out of control. Our lifestyles today are different than in our parents’ lifetime. Therefore, there becomes a need to change the way we do things. When Parents are too strict and controlling, they risk the chance of their child acting out against them in ways that could result in mental, physical, and legal trouble.
To avoid any unnecessary problems, The Center for Effective Discipline says not to spank for any reason, be comforting, and make a big deal out of good behavior. Spanking often makes the child angry, resulting in violent behavior. “Children are only likely to stop a behavior when the spanking adult is nearby. It doesn’t teach them better behavior” (Center). Instead of spanking or getting angry when your child will not sleep in his/her bed, you could try waiting for them to come running to you and then comfort them while taking them back to their own bed. It will make them understand where they need to be and it will get them more comfortable on their own (Center). When they start to sleep in their own bed, reward them. Start focusing on the good things that...