What is Positive Discipline?

How should a parent deal with a child who neglects to do his homework or bullies his classmates?

Edicio dela Torre, president of E-Net Philippines, told GMA News Online that there are ways to instill discipline in a child without resorting to physical or corporal punishment.

Dela Torre said "Positive Discipline," being promoted by the Department of Education (DepEd) in public schools, can also be applied in the home.

Dela Torre said Positive Discipline does not mean permissiveness nor slapping, hitting, or shaming.

"It's discipline, hindi yung kahit ano pwede, pero positive methods," he said.

Dela Torre said Positive Discipline involves three R's: being respectful, being responsible for one's actions, and being resourceful.

Positive Discipline is the opposite of corporal punishment which entails smacking, slapping, spanking, scratching, pinching, biting, pulling hair, and others.

Dela Torre cited the case of child killed by his parent who tried to discipline him by spanking him with a broom.

He said Positive Discipline is a way of teaching a child discipline without resorting to humiliating or degrading forms of punishment.

DepEd has produced a primer on Positive Discipline in coordination with E-Net Philippines and Save the Children.

— BM, GMA News