Grounding is a general discipline technique throughout the Western world, particularly in the Anglosphere of the United States and Canada, and other countries heavily inline with American mass media which restricts children or teenagers at home from going out or pursuing their favorite activities, except for any obligations (for example, attending school (unless the child or teenager is suspended or expelled), religious church services, or any medical appointments).
Moreover, any positive reinforcement and other privileges such as television, computer (except for school work), radio, toys, phone, dessert, among others are often revoked.
Grounding is used as an alternative to physical discipline, e.g., spanking, for behavior management in the home.
[1][2] According to a 2000 review on child outcomes, "Grounding has been replicated as a more effective disciplinary alternative than spanking with teenagers with challenging behavior.
[3][4] This term was used initially in aviation: when a pilot is prevented from flying an aircraft due to misconduct, illness, technical issues with the aircraft, or other reasons, the pilot is "grounded" – that is, literally confined to the ground.