So, I know I'm not a parent and can't fully understand all the challenges involved until I am one. But there are some basics of "positive and negative reinforcement" that don't take experience to understand, and understand when used in a horribly, horribly wrong fashion.
Witness my visit last week to a stationary store. As I walked in, a mom and her kid, maybe 2 or 3 years old, arrived, the son receiving a, "Now, don't touch anything" admonishment. Not 2 minutes later, the kid is walking past a wall display of cards, sticks his hand out and dumps an entire stack of cards on the floor.
Mom picks the cards up, puts them back, and picks son up. This was the conversation they proceeded to have, nearly verbatim, I ain't making this up.
Mom: Now why did you do that when I asked you not to touch anything?
Kid: [no reaction to the question at all.]
Mom: Do you want some candy?
Kid: Yes
Mom: We'll get you some candy. And maybe some cake later.
[pause]
Mom: Are you going to touch anything again?
Kid: Yes
Mom: No, no touching. You're not allowed to touch
Geez, mom, I wonder why your kid doesn't listen to you.
