Discipline ​​Dispassionately

Remember the last time you got a speeding ticket? The officer who pulled you over ​​​wasn't emotional. He didn't yell at you. Instead, he was very matter of fact. He told you what you did wrong and wrote you the ticket. And how did you drive away? Very carefully, obeying all traffic rules, right?

This is a great model for disciplining teenagers. As with the officer issuing the ticket, a dispassionate delivery of consequences is required when disciplining your teen for a rule infraction. If you go down the alternate road - getting angry, raising your voice, etc. - you not only jeopardize the success of the discipline you are dealing with, but also your relationship with your teenager.

Bear in mind that while you may be delivering discipline in a dispassionate manner, your teen may not act similarly in response. After all, it's natural to be upset when on the receiving end of discipline. That being said, if he or she escalates the response by becoming aggressive or noncompliant, you should not likewise raise the emotional tenor of the interaction. Instead, you simply increase the consequence of the original infraction.

Resist the temptation to get emotional. Because if you don't, you can risk turning a simple teaching interaction into a major confrontation that can set you back.