But then, unfortunately, it requires more skill and dexterity, more gentleness of touch, so to speak, and a more delicate constitution of soul, than most mothers can be expected to possess.
But let us see what the three methods are.
_First Method_.
1.

The first principle is that the mother should so regulate her management of her child, that he should _never_ gain any desired end by any act of insubmission, but _always_ incur some small trouble, inconvenience, or privation, by disobeying or neglecting to obey his mother's command.
The important words in this statement of the principle are _never_ and _always_.

It is the absolute certainty that disobedience will hurt him, and not help him, in which the whole efficacy of the rule consists.
It is very surprising how small a punishment will prove efficacious if it is only _certain_ to follow the transgression.

You may set apart a certain place for a prison--a corner of the sofa, a certain ottoman, a chair, a stool, any thing will answer; and the more entirely every thing like an air of displeasure or severity is excluded, in the manner of making the preliminary arrangements, the better.

A mother without any tact, or any proper understanding of the way in which the hearts and minds of young children are influenced, will begin, very likely, with a scolding.
"Children, you are getting very disobedient.