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In this article the authors distill principles of effective classroom discipline from the extensive literature on parent–child interaction and on motivation of behavior. Although there are many books and articles on classroom management, there is little empirical research on the topic, and even less that stresses management that aims to preserve children's perceptions of autonomy and to foster self-control. Research and theory make many recommendations regarding autonomy, control, internalization, and so forth, but they tend to be abstract. Based on that literature, the authors suggest a concrete approach to discipline that they call persistent persuasion. Persistent persuasion involves the adult continually restating a command until the child complies, but without increasing the level of power or using coercive threats so that the development of self-control is not undermined.