The answer to what is blanket training lies in the name itself. You are using a blanket for your baby to help him get access to the things on it. It`s a way to train your little one’s self-control and encourage obedience, unlike a receiving blanket that warms a newborn.
This article will enlighten you about the essential things behind blanket training. It`s a good read for all UK parents alike, especially those in the UK who are just new to parenthood. Furthermore, you want to find out if there are drawbacks to remember when you`re blanket training your baby.
Everything You Need To Know About Blanket Training
What is blanket training?
Blanket training is a method of using a blanket to teach your baby self-control and obedience. You’ll place your child in a blanket and only allow them to use what’s in the blanket. The time interval varies, and parents use different disciplinary tactics or positive reinforcements when their child leaves the blanket.
However, some UK parents are not enthusiastic about this training method because it initially used corporal punishment or physical force when children moved out of the blanket. Nonetheless, you don’t have to include force in training because you can also do blanket training with positive reinforcement instead. This action means praising your child when they only use the blanket toys or stay on them.
What are the benefits of blanket training?
Teaching your child about the limitations of toys and activities in the blanket will enhance their self-control. It expected to lead to a more obedient child and a lesser need for control on the parent’s part later on. However, the UK parent’s choice is whether they`ll use corporal punishment or positive reinforcement to discipline the child.
Punishment vs reinforcement
To help you decide whether you`ll go with punishment or reinforcement, you must know how the two differ. While both can either be positive or negative, discipline aims to decrease a behaviour while supporting aims the opposite and increasing it. For blanket training, UK parents more often use positive reinforcement and praise their child when they stay on the blanket or only uses the activities inside.
But in the early days, parents who did blanket training used physical punishment to decrease the behaviour of going out of the blanket or using the toys outside of it.
What Is The Point Of Blanket Training?
To teach boundaries
The whole point of blanket training is to teach boundaries and self-control. It was a controversial method because it originated from the book To Train Up A Child. Previously called The Pearl Technique, the process requires the UK parent to punish the baby if it crawls outside the blanket.
How does blanket training differ today?
The modern version of blanket training removes the punishment aspect and rewards the child instead. It can be practised 5 minutes daily and then increase the intervals as the child progresses. Besides toys that the child doesn`t usually have access to, parents also use treats.
Should you try blanket training?
Once the child mastered self-control, they can apply it to other practices and public places outside the UK home. It will allow UK parents to lessen their worries as kids will stay put throughout their requested duration. However, in the parents` assessment, they think blanket training will help raise their child.
What Is The Blanket Method Of Discipline?
The blanket method of discipline is what Michael and Debi Pearl promoted in their book, and it is the origin behind blanket training. It is done at a very young age to instil obedience in the child. According to this method, UK parents must hit the child when they leave the blanket.
What is the opinion of a children`s psychologist about this method of discipline? A concern behind this technique is it will leave the question of why still unanswered by the child. Remember that children must always understand the purpose of what you teach them and not just why they must stay in the blanket.
Do The Duggars Use Blanket Training?
It is unclear which Duggar children have used blanket training, but Michelle practised a similar method she calls quiet and still. According to her, it`s practised twice or thrice a day to teach them self-control and obedience. On the other hand, Amy King prefers her son to be more curious than trained at a very young age.
What Is The Pearl Method Of Discipline?
As we have briefly mentioned, blanket training has its roots in the Pearl method. But because of the physical disciplinary procedures recommended for it, many UK parents have condemned using it for their children. The punishments reported including hitting with belts or spoons and even exposing children to cold weather.
Remember never to physically punish children of any age as it wouldn`t help them learn valuable lessons. They won`t find the reason why they`re being hurt and will only feel pain.
Conclusion
Did you know that blankets also used for teaching children? Knowing more about what is blanket training in this article, you have understood that it aims to teach children self-control. They must never go out of the blanket or use toys that are outside of it.
However, you should always consult with your child`s doctor regarding your little one’s appropriate disciplinary methods. Your child must always understand the reason behind reinforcement or punishment.