How to Effectively Ground a Child or Teenager

Grounding, or removal of liberty, is a commonly-used form of punishment. I'm all for grounding, if done properly. Here's how to effectively ground a child or teen.

* Long groundings are hard to follow through with. Kids are involved in many activities: sports, arts, community and church events, work, school functions. Parents must constantly decide which are included in the grounding. It's also hard because grounding kids is grounding parents. For young kids it might be okay, But with teens, its harder. You have to stay home and "babysit" them. Say you take away the driver's license. You've just shot yourself in the foot. Now YOU need to provide transportation to work, school and events not included in the grounding.


* There's also a point at which grounding (any punishment) has the reverse effect from the desired correction. I call it 'the point of saturation'. For the first few days of grounding, the child may feel remorse for behavior. Whether they admit it or not, kids get why they were grounded, if it was appropriate to the crime. Then kids begin get restless. Resentment sets in. What was initially effective, corrective discipline backfires.


* Age appropriate grounding is vital. Little children put in 'time out' are in effect grounded. At this age, timeout should be timed in minutes. Timeout/ grounding rule of thumb: the older the child the longer the time, up to a certain point. Children under 6 should get two minutes per year (roughly). Ages of six to ten, ground children to yard or house for a few hours to a day.

*  Children should not be grounded from: school field trips, visiting relatives, special interest group activities, sports practices, boy scout camping trips, youth group functions, arts performances. Never withhold meals or other necessities.

* Family outings are case by case. They might be grounded from a special outing with Grandma and Grampa, but I don't advocate it. Find something else to withhold. Grandparents might have a hard time following through. If they don't, you end up the bad guy all around. Also lift the grounding when visiting. It can cause tension and awkwardness that will only have an adverse affect on the desired outcome of the punishment. But family should respect your rules. Everyone has to be on the same page for a grounding to work.

* Only on the rarest occasions should children be grounded from playing with specific children. Only do this if they persistently get in trouble together or if threatens or hurts your child.

* Ground tweens and teens under 16 from specific things and only for a few days. Good things to ground from are: junk food, candy, television, computer, video games, Playstation (Wii, Xbox etc.), iPod, cellphone, internet, party, going to a friend's house, sleepover.


Grounding should be remove privileges not administer harm. For more parenting helps, visit me at www.healthhelp4u.blogspot.com and http://emotionalhealthhelp.blogspot.com and http://heartsmartrelationships.blogspot.com

Outdoor Summer Life Science Activities, Biology Nature Crafts for Kids

Life science, or biology, is an essential school subject. But kids often hate science because it's taught from boring textbooks in meaningless paper-and-pencil activities. Whether you homeschool or not, summer is a great time to explore life science with kids--outdoors, up-close and personal! Rediscover the inherent fascination of life science this summer with hands-on experiments and crafts. Teach green, using recycled supplies.  Outdoor Summer Life Science Activities, Biology Nature Crafts

How Parents Can Manage Free Summer Childcare Plus Teach Kids Accountability

Kids are rejoicing that "school's out for the summer" but parents who face three months without childcare may be singing a different tune. How do you juggle daycare if you can't afford a babysitter (which many work at home parents can't)? You think like a detective and ask who, why, where, when and what. Then based on your answers, you develop a plan for free and low-cost summer childcare.  How Parents Can Manage Free Summer Childcare, Teach Kids Accountability

How Parents Effectively Teach Kids, Putting Learning Theory Into Practice in the Home

I'm a teacher and former homeschool parent. I've explored learning theory inside out and found home an ideal teaching environment. It's best-suited to real-life learning experiences. Parents, you don't have call yourself a "homeschooler." Because parenting IS educating. Here are effective ways to teach children using everyday family activities.How Parents Effectively Teach Kids at Home, Learning Theory Into Practice

Survival Tips for Memorial Day Weekend Travel with Kids, 2.0 Parent Version!

Memorial Day weekend is here. Your family is heading out for a much needed vacation. But wait--traveling with kids--that sounds like more headache than holiday. And it will be, if you don't follow these parent survival tips. Enjoy stress-free car travel with kids. Follow my lead. Parent Survival Tips for Memorial Day Weekend Travel with Kids

Easy, Homemade Mother's Day Party Dads and Kids Can Make

As a 25-year mom of four, I've been the guest of honor at many child-hosted Mother's Day and birthday parties. Our children learned to throw a budget, homemade bash from me and my husband. For a guy, my husband is great at party-planning. Dads, here are tips from the master's knee, on planning an inexpensive Mother's Day party with your kids, that your wife will love!  Dad-Inspired, Kid-Friendly Mother's Day Party, Homemade and Cheap

Mother's Day Activities for Moms Who Have Lost Children and Kids Who Have Lost Moms

 Mother's Day is a favorite holiday for me. I have four lovely kids plus my mother, step mother and mother-in-law still living. Mother's Day can be bittersweet for kids who have lost moms. And what about the mother who has lost a child? Mother's Day may just be bitter for her. Here are ways to acknowledge Mother's Day (or just survive) if you or someone you love has lost a child. I've included ideas for children (even adult kids) who have lost moms, too. Mother's Day Activities for Moms Who Have Lost Children

7 Reasons Kids and Guns in the Home Don't Mix

As the memorial day for slain peace activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. approaches, it's a good time to think gun control. Gun rights are a hot-button topic of debate. Setting aside the rhetoric, let's look at firearms practically, from a parenting perspective. Here are seven reasons not to have firearms when you have kids. Parents, consider these facts carefully. Reasons for Gun Control

How to Work at Home with Sick Kids

Vacation's over; everyone's back to school; you can finally get caught up on work and wouldn't you know it--a child gets sick. Flu season 2012-2013 is shaping up nasty says ABC News, so if you've got kids, plan on them getting ill. How do you get anything done with sick kids? Let this multitasker mom of four and former homeschool parent help. WAHM parents with sick kids

Dinner Tweaks to Help Overweight Kids

The holiday season is notoriously the most difficult time to be on a diet. I can follow my weight loss plan just fine until mid-November. When the stores start touting Thanksgiving and Christmas treats, my resolution dims. For overweight kids, the holidays are especially difficult to navigate. Here are dinner tweaks to help your child stay the course and still enjoy the feasting. Use these food swaps for any dinner time meal preparation. Kids won't even notice the difference! Food Swaps to Help Fat Kids Diet

Parenting Kids With Low Self Esteem

 Have you ever wondered what goes on inside the head of a person with low self-esteem? If you're experiencing low self-esteem for the first time, it can be pretty scary. If you've not experienced negative self-image, it's hard to imagine why those of us who have behave as we do. If you're parenting a child with self esteem issues, it's even more challenging. Kids struggle with communication as it is. To explain negative emotions to a parent can be overwhelming. Here are coping tips. Read more

Sandy Hook Elementary, Conn. School Shooting Prompts Kids' Emotional Health Concerns

School shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut on December 14, 2012  have claimed the lives of 27 people, including 18 children. A gunman, reportedly a parent, opened fire killing many little ones, mostly of kindergarten age. Along with child safety concerns, I worry, as always, about the emotional toll such an incident has on kids. This article was written on the anniversary of the Virginia Tech shootings in 2007 when 32 students and faculty were killed. I've listed a few resources for parents. Mister Rogers always said, in times of crisis, to "Look for the helpers. There will always be helpers." Let kids know you love them and will help them. Follow the example of this brave woman in the picture to the left. She's comforting kids and keeping them together. She must be terrified, yet she's  staying calm for the little ones. Kids need to be reminded that you will do your best to keep them safe. As a praying mom, I advise parents to call upon their higher power and teach kids to do likewise. Recognizing a higher power helps kids feel they're not alone. Read more

Trim Costs on Kids' Christmas Presents

I like the holidays, but honestly, Christmas expenses dim some of the joy. Shopping for four kids, my holiday spending can quickly get out of hand. When I overspend, this Mommy Santa grows less jolly with each incoming bill. Debt-ridden is no way to start the new year. Here are penny-pinching tips to keep kids' Christmas present costs under control.  read more

Making Kids Thanksgiving Helpers (not Hindrances!)

In holiday party preparation, children may be more of a hindrance than a help. Parents may find Thanksgiving not so thankful and Christmas not so merry if they're juggling shopping, cooking, party planning, housecleaning and childcare. Here are ways kids can help with holiday party planning. Tips work for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's Day, and any party year-round.  Read more

Parent coping tips for teen anger and mood swings

Clinical teen depression is relatively uncommon, but tell that to parents of teens and they may not agree. I certainly wouldn't have. Bouts of moodiness are hallmarks of teen behavior and one of the most worrisome for parents. Here's a parent survival kit for dealing with teen mood swings.  Parent coping tips for teen anger and mood swings

How to talk and listen to your teen

"We need to talk." Hearing those words makes me nervous. I don't know whether it's the faint implication of censure, the possible portent of bad news or just the fear of the unknown, but I get edgy when someone says that to me. Kids get nervous, too. Here are parenting tips on talking to teens so everyone feels comfortable.  To read the article, click here How to listen to your teen. (Please note: there are several errors in this article and I apologize for that. I'm not sure, but I think they're happening when I transfer the article from WORD to the template I'm using.)

How to Choose Clothes for Overweight Girls

When I was eight years old, back in 1972, I was put on a diet by a doctor. I weighed 100 pounds. I heard all the fat girl names from' schoolmates, 'tubby' 'whale-o' 'blubber' , plus even some that were probably original. I will say this for 70's kids, they took some pains to be creative in their name -calling: 'lardo': pretty inventive for the oleo-margarine generation. From those early experiences, I developed a nasty case of low self-esteem. I decided that my kids were going to have it better, whether they were thin or fat. I can't fix kids' behavior, but I can do everything possible to reduce stress. One way is by choosing clothes that make kids feel good about themselves. Here's a guide I put together for parents to do that   How to Choose Clothes for Overweight Girls

Why kids cut and self abuse

Self-abuse is a touchy, uncomfortable subject. Kids cutting can be terrifying for parents. Cutting refers to a form of self abuse in which the skin, typically near the wrist, is sliced or pierced. It's scary for kids, too, particularly those who cut or know someone who does. Cutting behavior is dangerous--it spreads infection and causes scarring. Most upsetting of all is that such acts may stem from underlying depression and thoughts of suicide. From personal experience as a mom and childhood self-abuser, here are thoughts on cutting behavior.  Why kids cut and self abuse 

For best parenting practices, nix frequent cellphone texts

During most of my early parenting, cellphones weren't so common and texting was virtually unheard of. Though I've had a mobile device for about 12 years, I still don't have a texting plan. In parenting, I can think of few good outcomes and lots of negative ones from frequent cellphone texting. I'm not referring to business cellphone use, but casual chat.  This isn't multitasking--it's an accident waiting to happen. Here's why texting and parenting don't mix. For best parenting practices, nix frequent cellphone texts 

Verbal bullying: 7 kinds of talk that kids shouldn't be subjected to

No parent is perfect, and I'm no exception. I've used inappropriate language and said things I shouldn't around my kids. But that doesn't mean I don't have standards about what I do and don't want my kids to hear. Some kinds of language constitute verbal harassment and bullying. I may not be able to protect my kids from everything, but I can certainly stand up to objectionable things. No matter who is saying these things, be they friend or family, there are certain kinds of talk that I won't subject my kids to. If it comes on television, the set goes off. My kids know that songs that use these words don't come in the house.  7 kinds of talk that kids shouldn't be subjected to