Punishment doesn’t teach skills. When a child explodes in anger, it’s tempting to reach for punishment because the behavior feels unsafe, disrespectful, or out of control. But punishment doesn’t teach a child how to handle big feelings. And permissiveness doesn’t either. The real work lives in the space between. That’s where you hold a clear boundary: “It’s okay to feel angry. It’s not okay to call names.” And then, when everyone is calmer, you teach the skill that’s missing. You slow things down. You practice a different response together. You rehearse what to say or do next time. Just like practicing before a game, kids need repetition before they can use a skill under pressure. Over time, that practice becomes real behavior change. Not because the child is afraid, but because they’re capable. It makes us wonder: What if the goal isn’t to shut behavior down, but to build the skills that change it? Speaker: Dr. Becky Kennedy Source: Dr. Becky Kennedy: The 5 Parenting Mistakes You Never Want To Make | Mighty Pursuit Podcast