Disciplining children: parental perceptions, practices, and the influences of early experiences

Abstract

This qualitative study explores how parents in urban Bangladesh perceive and practice child discipline, with special attention to how their own childhood experiences shape their current approaches. Drawing on semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with mothers of young children, the research uncovers the beliefs, intentions, and everyday realities behind disciplinary decisions. Findings reveal that parents often describe discipline as more than correction—it is a way to teach morality, prepare children for life’s challenges, and pass down values. Their strategies range from strict, rule-focused methods to warm, relational approaches, shaped by religious beliefs, cultural traditions, and the echoes of how they were once disciplined themselves. While many express a desire to embrace more communicative, empathetic parenting, everyday pressures—economic stress, emotional fatigue, and inherited habits—often pull them toward inconsistent or reactive practices. In Bangladesh, much-needed national efforts rightly focus on rural poverty and marginalized communities. Yet, the country’s large and growing middle-income band, home to the majority of future leaders, often receives little support for mindful, non-violent parenting. This study highlights why their needs must not be overlooked. By addressing the parenting realities of this group, Bangladesh can nurture emotionally resilient, socially responsible citizens, strengthening not just families, but the nation’s future.