Parental Impact and The Box The really most unfortunate aspect of this is that The Box is so easy to use.  The method is very straight-forward: tell them what to do; offer rewards; threaten punishments and make them sound like fun doing it. Hitler definitely told the German citizens what, how, and when to do his bidding and used rewards and punishments thereby forcing people to do it. But, he added something clever, sinister actually. He added entertaining elements to it to make people feel like it was fun. A huge number of Germans were boxed-in to carry out horrible crimes against others both within and outside Germany. The power of Hitler’s Box began in its simplicity of use that could be passed down to those under him to use. In a way, parents simply pass down The Box to those under them – their own children. Then, we all walk around with a common feeling: If it was good enough for me, it’s good enough for them! There are two things to consider to create a positive parental impact: Is there a correct way to use The Box? Is there a way to avoid using The Box? If One Resorts to Using The Box If we must or choose to use The Box, then we must make to use it constructively and avoid abusive techniques or the abuse of a steady diet. Remember, the ultimate goal of parenting is to prepare kids to someday think and act on their own. If we constantly control their every move, when will they get a chance to try things on their own? Far too many kids enter the workforce or college blind-sided by choices and responsibilities for the first time. Remember, their peers tend to lead them astray and thus offer another type of control. This is where the book Living Beyond The Box can help.  It gives a deeper understanding of The Box and its consequences. Also, it helps in deciding what to do when others use it on us, and when we use it on others. To be a better parent, we first need to better handle Boxes We’re In. Read the full article