Is punishment necessary for children to learn the different between right and wrong? Is punishment necessary for children to learn the difference between right and wrong? Children are expected to learn to distinguish right from wrong. Punishment is sometimes important, but I would argue that it would have adverse impact on children’s confidence and creativity. Some people are strong advocates of imposing punishment on children because it can hold children responsible for their behaviors and help them develop a correct view of what is right and what is wrong from an early age. Unlike adult, they add, children are normally not aware of the importance of telling right from wrong if no punishment is implemented to them. However, there are concerns that punishments may not have a positive influence on children, if parents or teachers punish children without appropriate educational guidance. As a result of punishment, children will be less confident and lack of creativity. For example, they may dare not put their innovative ideas into practice, since they are afraid of being punished if they disobey some restriction. What’s worse, physical punishment will leave negative effects to young children, which are harmful to their mental health. Rather, teachers and parents have many ways to discipline children such as withdrawal of privilege, detention, and time-out. But in my view, the most effective method for supervisors to help children learn the difference between right and wrong is to provide good modelling in their own behaviors. It is said that young children are good at imitating what their parents do, which means children strongly believe that their parents behaviors are right and will learn from them. Apart from this, it is more essential for children to realize the distinctive between right and wrong from the correct guidance of their parents and teachers rather than simply to be punished, otherwise they will still not understand what is wrong with them in most cases.