Actions Lead to Consequences

By Dr James Dobson

Sheltering a child from the consequences of his own actions now could help create an immature adult later.

One of the prime objectives during the pre-adolescent years is to teach the child that actions lead to consequences, and yet this connection is often interrupted. A 10-year-old steals candy from a store and he’s caught and released to his parents, and nothing happens. A 15-yearold takes the keys to the family car and the parents pay the fine for his driving without a licence.

All through childhood such loving parents in their misguided efforts to shield the child from pain have stood between his action and the natural consequences that flow from them. It’s possible under these circumstances for a young man or woman to enter adulthood not really knowing that life can bite. He may become a grown-up adolescent constantly needing his parents to bail him out of trouble.

So how does one break this scenario? By linking actions to consequences. If Jane carelessly loses her lunch money she just may have to skip a meal. If Jack misses the school bus because he was wasting time he may have to walk a mile or two to school.

Now obviously it’s easy to carry this principle too far or to be too harsh. But a taste of bitter fruit that irresponsibility brings can teach a young child valuable lessons that may be useful to him later on.

From TODAY, Voices - Tuesday, 16-March-2010
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