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Why Are Children Always Being Grounded in America?
Alternatives to extreme punishments
Does it work? Isn’t it a form of torture?
I’ve been seeing a lot of instances of grounding lately in movies or TV shows, and it’s just painful to watch them. Maybe that’s the claustrophobic in me.
What is grounding? Well, basically, it’s a type of (harsh) punishment where parents forbid their child to leave home or even their room, and where they limit or take away access to devices or contact with friends.
It’s authoritarian and allows for no dialog. In the words of Roald Dahl in ‘Matilda’,
“I’m right and you’re wrong, I’m big and you’re small, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
It’s a form of bullying, in my opinion.
The negative effects of grounding
Grounding creates more resentment and bitterness in the parent-child relationship. It may show your authority in the short term, but it causes distress, especially to young children. Repeatedly grounding a child is going to also reduce its supposed effectiveness.
