Parents certainly have applied corporal punishment on misbehaved or rebellious children many times. Cold shower punishment child development is one of the typical ways in the category of punishment.
We record tons of mixed opinions on this matter. Some people agree that this punishment can teach the kids a lesson and exercise them simultaneously.
Meanwhile, the rest condemn it harshly, considering it child torture. Rest assured; we are here to clarify it in this article!
Cold Shower Punishment Child Development: Are Cold Showers Ok For Kids?
No. Using cold water during bath time as a punishment is warned to bring more risks to the child’s health than benefits.
We consider it a torture for an immature body like a child rather than a punishment. It can affect your kid both physically and mentally, sometimes comparable to child abuse.
It is undeniable that cold showers can provide many health benefits to adults. Adults are encouraged to take a cold shower to boost the mind’s awakeness, starting a day with energy.
In addition, cold water is also preferred because it can strengthen the skin texture and prevent hair loss.
Perhaps you do not know, but cold water not only improves the heart rate, respiratory system, and circulatory system but also enhances the body’s metabolic activity.
However, these advantages only take effect on a fully developed and stable adult body. Parents may mistakenly think cold shower punishment is equivalent to positive child training.
Kids are totally different. As you know, the immature body system, the sensitive skin, and the instability of the internal functions make children susceptible to minor illnesses from external agents.
They may suffer the opposite effects of this practice.
Children with inherent weak health conditions will easily catch colds and headaches after being punished.
Prolonged showering can increase the risk of pneumonia, bronchitis, or worse, cyanosis due to heat shock.
In particular, the infection possibility is much higher if the baby is penalized in winter, during the rainy season, or when the season changes.
We have recorded many cases where awful parents want to punish their children severely. They directly forced the child to suffer from ice-cold showers.
Obviously, this behavior has crossed the boundaries of child discipline and has become child abuse because it could potentially endanger the child’s life.
The three biggest risks that children can face are frostbite, sudden decrease in body temperature, or loss of consciousness from temperature shock.
Do Cold Showers Build Discipline?
Objectively, a cold shower can help you build discipline. Cold water offers less relaxation, less comfortability, and less tenderness.
Trying to have a cold shower means that you have to reinforce your mind and overcome your own desire.
You are inclined to will, responsibility, and task rather than enjoyable feelings.
That’s why a cold shower is one of the effective ways to build and practice discipline. As you can see, taking a cold shower every morning is applied in army training.
Most importantly, discipline is only built when you take a cold shower appropriately. For example, you do it daily with moderately cold water and medium intensity.
Over time, you will gradually feel refreshed as your body has adapted to the low temperatures.
This way can assist teenagers or adolescents in raising their self-discipline. Under-10-year-old children are suggested not to experience this method.
Parents should not use these reasons as an excuse for the physical abuse called cold shower punishment.
Bad parents penalize by soaking their kids in the icy cold bath, splashing, or pouring aggressively cold water on them. And this implementation has nothing to do with building discipline.
How Do You Punish A Child Physically?
Physical punishment includes all the behaviors that directly impact the child’s body (arms, legs, or butt). Sometimes, parents are so angry that they use corporal punishment without control.
Spanking or slapping is the most common way parents use hands to hit the child’s butt or cheeks.
Another popular treatment is to beat the kid with other long-shaped objects, typically a whip, broom, or chopsticks. And, of course, these items can easily leave the skin with hurtful marks or even bleeding.
Besides cold showers, children are also forced to kneel alongside putting their arms up.
This may seem the most gentle, but it also affects the knees’ muscles and nerves, making the child more likely to have bone and joint problems in the future.
Physical punishment can be effective immediately. Feeling physical pain, the kid may hesitate to repeat their mistakes later. However, the long-term consequences should be noticed more by parents.
The young suffering from corporal punishment often shows mental health issues like insecurity and anxiety in teens.
They are possibly scared, avoid people around, and even isolate themselves from social relationships.
Moreover, the whip can nourish the violent preference in the kid’s mind. Obviously, this thought formation is extremely dangerous for the child’s development in the future.
How Do You Discipline A Child Without Physical Punishment?
Moms or dads need to choose and apply the punishment carefully, avoiding damaging the child’s physical and mental health.
We come up with some methods free of physical impacts that parents can refer to.
Talk and share confidence with them: If your child is just making little common mistakes, stay calm and give him advice.
Don’t hesitate to express what you expect from your child. Or else, please share your happiness if your child does not repeat these mistakes.
Soft spoken voice and kind demeanor not only adjust behavioral mistakes but also comfort your offspring and create an emotional bond between generations.
Draw a picture: a fairly new and effective punishment often applied to preschool children. Oftentimes, they are not aware of the consequences that their misbehaviors can cause.
Let’s support them. You can ask your child to draw his disappointing actions on paper. While drawing, children can gradually control their emotions and reflect on themselves.
In our opinion, this form needs to be more far-reaching and applied.
Spend time with your child: You and your child can eat out.
You may not know that experiencing cozy moments with family can make children feel guilty about their mistakes. You can spend this time talking and giving advice.
Conclusion
In sum, cold shower punishment child development is considered physical abuse rather than positive punishment. Therefore, parents should not use this method in their parenting.
It both scares your child and threatens his health (diseases). Besides, this punishment can make the parents’ image become cruel in their children’s eyes.
Punishment is a training form that needs to be done in raising a child. However, it is only effective when implemented correctly.
The line between child penalization and child abuse is fragile. Parents should be careful to make sure the punishment is always under control.