It is important for children to learn the difference between right and wrong at an early age. Punishment is necessary to help them learn this distinction. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? What sort of punishment should...

One of the most major development of children is the growth of a conscience. In the light of it, how to teach children and what ages suitable for guiding them about morals are perplexing questions. It is believed that children, especially at an early age, should be taught about something right or wrong and to help them form the conception, punishment is a practical method. From my perspective, I disagree almost entirely with the given statement.

There are two compelling reasons as to why it is not sensible if guiding children on how different right and wrong is too early. The key rationale is with their ages it is hard for them to understand why behaviors or problems are wrong, let alone the reason why they are punished. Additionally, given that moral understanding is complex and subtle, gaining understanding is ultimately just a matter of getting enough moral knowledge, due to sadly lacking conscience, the mature moral consciousness is non-existent in children. A child can be kind to others because of his mother’s guidance, which simply telling more facts about right or wrong is not a holistic remedy, and she has to learn to think this independently.

In terms of punishments, not every type of discipline is good for children’s developing process. In regard to physical punishment, it could do more harm than good because it might not only give rise to many mental disorders, including violence, autism or even obsessions of their childhood but also not deal with causes of problems. In addition to it, Other types of disciplines, like giving consequences, time-out, setting limits and so on may have promising prospects. For example, making the punishment match is a useful notion, which would see children being made to pick up rubbish they dropped, clean up graffiti they have drawn, or apologize to someone they have hurt, helping child enhance their responsibility. This is a testament to overshadowing of other punishments comparing to physical hurts.

In conclusion, while many are in favor of letting children access moral codes since their premature age, I am on the opposite side because of the reasons above and the kinds of punishment mentioned are more practical and promising.