Re: "The use of punishment only helps the child to develop a greater power of resistance and defiance", it sounds like a bunch of hippie nonsense to me. ;D

Regarding the avoidance of guilty feelings for bad behavior, I suppose that is a risk. You don't want your kid turning into a sneak, behaving badly when he thinks he can avoid punishment. It's tough, but you have to use all your knowledge of your individual kid to help you teach good values, empathy, etc. It's a long process, and it may seem like slow going with a gifted kid because of the difference between intellectual and emotional maturity at a young age.

If by strict discipline you mean corporal punishment, I think it's almost always a bad idea, perhaps always (we never use it). Nor would I ever withhold food from a child.

Striving to increase my rate of flow, and fight forum gloopiness. sick