Thoughts for the Week:

Discipline means different things to different people, but I like to think of it as a way adults help children develop self-discipline. Developing self-control is a gradual process for children and when we set limits on their actions and behavior, we're slowly teaching them to set those limits for themselves.

It can be very frightening for children to have no limits -- to feel that no one will stop them from hurting themselves or other people. Discipline doesn't have to mean punishment. It can just as well mean a grownup's loving way of controlling children's behavior until they can exercise that control by themselves.