Disciplinary dos and dont's

That is the advice from child psychologist Daniel Koh for those disciplining children. "By correcting her behaviour, the child will assume responsibility for her actions and avoid

repeating it," Mr Koh said. But when the punishment stretches over a long period, it no longer becomes relevant because the effects that are built up every day - whether humiliation, embarrassment or fear - would be reinforced. "Punishment in front of peers would be deemed by the child as a never-ending torture.

They would feel they have been singled out... And there would be no chance for confidence and self-esteem to be rebuilt," Mr Koh said.

Other child experts approached said that if a child is punished or grounded for more than a month, the child may not feel motivated to change his or her behaviour, because the punishment itself had already become the status quo.

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