What does the Convention on the Rights of the Child say about the ways parents discipline their children?
The Convention makes it clear that children shall be protected from all forms of mental or physical violence or maltreatment. Thus, any forms of discipline involving such violence are unacceptable. In most countries, laws are already in place that define what sorts of punishments are considered excessive or abusive. It is up to each country to review these laws in light of the Convention. The Convention does not specify what discipline techniques parents should use, but it strongly supports parents in providing guidance and direction to their children. There are ways to discipline children that are non-violent, are appropriate to the child’s level of development, and take the best interests of the child into consideration. Such forms of discipline are effective in helping children learn about family and social expectations for their behavior.
