Teach the lesson the right way!

All of us commit mistakes knowingly or unknowingly due to reasons such as ignorance, peer pressure, etc. But we remember that if we said or did something wrong as kids or teens, we were either ridiculed or punished. Sometimes, we were also bribed to act right in return for things we loved. But did it really teach us a lesson? Not at all!

Behaviour corrected with punishments, ridicule or even bribery is a negative reinforcement. Kids will avoid doing wrong only to save themselves from the punishment or for favourable gain. Once the reinforcement is removed, the behaviour might be resumed. Instead, if we morally reason out with the wrong by focusing on triggers that caused the action, rationalize to children how such actions can impact their personality and the wider society and advise them to stay on the right path irrespective of whether they knowingly or unknowingly committed the mistake, we can make them understand why they shouldn’t commit the mistake to make it non-repetitive for the future and secure their welfare.

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