ABC' s of

Home School Discipline

With home school discipline the easiest way to foster good behavior is to do away with bad influences. If your child/teen is used to some of the things listed below, the process will be slower. Eliminate the most critical (it goes without saying anything actually evil) immediately, then continue gradually.

All the while, explain why, talk and listen. Really work with your youngster. Some compensation--such as a clothes shopping trip or allowing him to join a positive activity, such guitar lessons--might be necessary. Whatever it takes, home school discipline can and must be done.

Once the negatives are gone, have fun with all the "positive stuff." Be creative. Look for ways to influence the child/teen toward Truth, beauty, and all that is good.

(Remember, use what works best for your family.)

• Do not allow any bad language or back talk.

• Severely limit all electronics.

  Internet--15 minutes max

  TV, approved videos and video games--2 hours max and only on weekends or on vacations

  Radio--we don't allow it at all except for baseball/football games or breaking news

  None of those earpieces on anything (bad for hearing and isolates the child)

  CD's--only those approved for very short periods of time

  Why be so restrictive? These years are the time when a child/teen needs to have quiet: to know himself, enjoy and use down time, learn to entertain himself, discover his interests and talents. There is such a great big world to discover, books, hobbies, volunteering, sports, writing, and on and on.

  Electronics are huge time-wasters and almost put the brain in a numb state. Even more seriously, electronics can introduce the child/teen to bad morals, rebellious ideas, terrible role models (not to mention the horrific, devastating effects of pornography).

• Don't let child/teen associate with bad companions. A youngster may come from a wonderful family, but still have been exposed to wrong ideas somewhere along the line. Thoroughly check any community activity in which your child/teen participates. Then monitor it. Do not assume anything.

• Set a good example. We ourselves must show self-discipline and be continually striving for self-control in all of those weak areas. For example, when the going gets rough with homeschooling, we keep going.

• Be very devout and active in your faith. Always keep Jesus, His Mother and all of the holy saints before your child/teen.

• Spend time as a family having fun!

• Aim for balance. Be aware of the youngster's needs, spiritual, intellectual, social, and physical. Sports does have an important place in a child/teen's life, especially a boy's.

• Explain very clearly and regularly why you homeschool. Keep it positive and focus on the big picture...why he is here and the ultimate goal of his life, choosing what is noble and beautiful, distinguishing right from wrong, etc.

• Let the child/teen know you are on his side with his best interests at heart. Say "yes" whenever you can. This demonstrates that when you say "no," you have a good a reason. Discipline is for his good.

• Be clear that a family is not a democracy. Children may have their say; the parents make the final decisions.

Stick with the home school discipline. Do not ever give up. Try to remain consistent, calm.

Just watch, when you think this will never work, that all is lost, suddenly, it all turns around. Have faith. Your child/teen will respond.

Book Recommendations:

Understand the Four Temperaments

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