How do you discipline your child/children?

We try to avoid spanking at all possible, that is our last resort, Usually they get one warning, after that, I start taking things that mean alot to them, like our daughter, the IPOD, cell phone, ear rings, computer time, those are things that they cant function without, taking those away send a strong point then just yelling and spanking.

I remember when you and Julie were to come over to my place after going out trick-or-treating. However, your mom had said that you weren't to have any of the candy until she had the chance to examine it--and I went along with that completely due to some of the cases of where people put everything from pins and razor blades to poison into treats. So, you two were thinking you could pull one over on me by going ahead and eating the treats when it was just me--thinking I was going to be easier on you than your mom and dad. Anyway, you were into the treats almost immediately, so I told you to put them back or we would be going right back to the house with no more trick-or-treating, and you wouldn't be coming over to my place for the weekend, either. You behaved until you got to your Uncle Vernon's place--then, you were into the treats! So I told you that we were going back home right then and there--and we did. Bubby was there, as your folks were bowling that night, and he didn't want to be bothered with you, so he told you to get ready for bed. I remember that you were bawling your head off. Julie was pitiful. She was crying but wasn't making a sound. It might not have seemed like it at the time, but it hurt me more than it did either of you. I felt sad as I was driving home and wondering if I'd been too hard on you, but I decided that I hadn't been.

Children absorb and follow just about anything and everything they see around themselves. And thus, the best way to discipline them is by having a disciplined surroundings around them. If the parents render their children a very serene environment, there is no reason why children wont follow them. Spanking might work occasionally but that shouldnt occur too often. Moreover, providing children a routine works better than anything else.

We usually use time out for our younger kids and restriction for our oldest. Occasionally we will make them write out the consequences of their actions, but we do that seldom because we don't want the kids to associate writing with punishment.