Ever wondered how your great-grandparents kept their kids in line before all the modern parenting tips & books? They had their own imaginative – even freakish – ways of disciplining children. These methods are strange now – but they often worked pretty well. Most of us as children grew up listening to our grandparents explain how such punishments molded their behavior. Let’s look at 14 crazy but highly effective punishments that parents used in the past to keep their kids in line.
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Early Bedtime
Parents used “early bedtimes” to punish children. To send them off early, well before they were exhausted, was like not staying to enjoy the whole party. It told children that bad behavior could cost them privileges – such as late nights.
Writing Sentences Over & Over
If I were to be handed a notebook & asked to write – “I will not lie” – 100 times, that would be quite a lot. It was the way that parents drilled the lesson into their children’s brains to teach them that behavior counts. It was tedious & by the time they finished, little kids did not want to do it again.
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Standing on One Foot
This bizarre punishment had children stand on one foot for a few minutes. It was harmless but challenging enough for them to understand their fault. This punishment was also laughable & that always made the lesson stick.
Holding Books for Long Periods
As a physical punishment some parents required children to hold big books with their arms outstretched. It wasn’t horrible, but it was certainly uncomfortable. The punishment taught children that wrongdoing was punishable – and their limbs would have to pay the price for days. And, who can forget such an original “lesson”?
Washing Mouths with Soap
This punishment was typically for lying & swearing. Parents thought a literal “rinsing” of the mouth would cause children to associate foul language with unpleasant consequences. Though it sounds cruel now, those who experienced this report that they soon learned to watch what they said.
Wearing an Embarrassing Sign
Imagine being forced to wear a sign that reads, “I behave badly” or “I didn’t clean my room today.” It taught kids that their actions mattered & often made them want to do better.
Losing Access to All Entertainment
Without going out, TV, radio, toys or landlines, there was no life. It was parents’ way of educating children that privilege had to be earned. When there were no distractions, children had more time to ponder what they had done & return with a more positive mindset.
Extra Chores as Consequences
Putting more chores on a child’s list was a regular discipline method. This method taught responsibility, whether it was scrubbing the floors or cleaning out the garage. It also taught children that mischievous actions often led to extra effort they might have avoided.
Writing Apology Letters
Sometimes when the children acted badly, their parents required them to write formal apology letters. And this was not about “sorry.” It was about children figuring things out, how they inflicted harm & really meaning it. It was a great lesson about responsibility.
Sitting in a Tree for a Moment of Detachment
To be sent to sit under a tree might sound pleasant, but believe me, it wasn’t. When children had no distraction, they had nothing to do but reflect on what they were doing wrong. They’d spend this quiet, lonely time reflecting on their behavior.
Wearing Clothes Inside Out
Kids were made to wear their clothes inside out for smaller mistakes. It wasn’t a harsh punishment, but it was embarrassing enough to teach them to behave.
Standing in the Corner
Standing in the corner was a simple but effective punishment. Being in front of the wall without distraction left time for kids to reflect on what they’d done wrong.
Making Public Apologies
Children had to apologize in public if they had misbehaved. The humiliation of apologizing to everyone made children reconsider their behavior next time.
Silent Dinner Rule
For bad table manners, parents used the “silent dinner” rule & kids had to eat quietly without joining the conversation. It wasn’t harsh & made the kids reflect on their behavior during family time.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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