Child Quote by Jay E. Adams
““The important factors in discipline are clarity, consistency, regularity, enforcibility and fairness. In adopting a code, first the parents agree to its terms. Next, the code is presented and explained to the children. They are given opportunity to negotiate any changes they believe would improve the code. Among younger children, these negotiations will largely pertain to determining punishments. Frequently, even very young children will suggest stronger and more appropriate punishments. Parents are the final authority under God, and may veto any proposals.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Parenting Principles, 1998
Effective discipline requires clear, consistent, regular, enforceable, and fair rules, co‑created with children.
In simple terms: Clear, fair rules work best.
Key Takeaway
Establish and explain rules together.
Themes
discipline
fairness
communication
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
educational
guidance
When to use this quote
- family meetings
- school behavior plans
- youth mentorship
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
parenting
authority
negotiation
Questions to Reflect On
- What limits should parents set on child input?
- How to ensure fairness while maintaining authority?
A Different Perspective
Children may lack maturity to negotiate consequences fully.
![“Please don't fall into the trap of believing that I am terribly dogmatical about [the goto statement]. I have the uncomfortable feeling that others are making a religion out of it, as if the conceptual problems of programming could be solved by a single trick, by a simple form of coding discipline!” quote by Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6ad/edsger-dijkstra-5102_believe_please-don-t-fall-into-the-trap-of-belie_167695.jpg)
