You should spend 40 minutes on this task.

It is important for children to learn the difference between right and wrong at an early age. Punishment is necessary to help them learn this distinction. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? What sort of punishment should parents and teachers be allowed to use to teach good behaviour to children? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.

Write at least 250 words. 

It is generally believed that in order to make children distinguish between right and wrong, punishments are inevitable at their tender ages. As better alternatives are available to discipline children, I cannot consider it as a mandatory option.   

The cardinal reason why I do not recommend punishments at this age is because children are generally immature in nature.To be precise, their brains are not fully developed to learn what exactly is right and wrong. The second reason why I think it is not advisable is because it might evoke emotional disturbances in them, which may affect their behaviour adversely. Stress, anxiety, panic or aggression in varying levels can be seen among such children. The impact may stay longer among some, and would negatively affect their future life too.

As a better alternative, parents and other elders should be good role models in front of children at their tender ages. Rewarding them and an open expression of appreciation for their good behaviour can persuade them to distinguish between right and wrong. 

I admit that minor punishments are necessary in later stages of childhood in case of children who exhibit extreme maladaptive behaviours. Once they attain adequate intellectual and emotional maturity, both parents and teachers can teach them identify the consequences of socially unacceptable behaviour. At this stage too, harsh corporal punishments are hardly recommended.

 To conclude, since other options are there to teach children about good and bad, punishments are rarely advised in childhood considering its far-reaching negative consequences.