NATURAL CONSEQUENCES

When you stand in the rain, you get wet. When you don’t eat, you get hungry. There is no need for an adult to intervene or make shameful remarks to the child such as 'I told you so' since the consequence has already been inflicted naturally. Instead, we help the child understand and realize that his action, or lack of action, resulted in a undesirable outcome. Though natural consequences are a great way for the child to learn how his actions have consequences, it is sometimes impractical, dangerous or pointless to allow a natural consequences. For example a child playing in the street or a child throwing rocks at another child or if a child eats too much ice cream, it may not seem like the consequence of not being hungry for dinner is a problem for the child.