A Good Spanking

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http://www.endcorporalpunishment.org/assets/pdfs/reference-documents/International-health-organisations-statement-in-support-of-prohibition.pdf The most recent research out of the University of Texas compiled over five decades of study data. The experts came to a rather startling conclusion: Spanking causes similar emotional and developmental harm as abuse to children. You’ll be hard-pressed to find any large-scale research that shows spanking to be effective in changing behavior and having no negative effects. But there are some studies out there that suggest spanking administered by “loving, well-intentioned parents” in a “nonabusive, disciplinary” environment can be an effective form of punishment. Harris Interactive. (2013, September 26). Fourin five Americans believe parents spanking their children is sometimes appropriate.[Press release] Every major health organization has come out against spanking. And several international organizations have even issued a call for criminalizing corporal punishment. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strongly opposes striking a child for any reason. According to AAP, spanking is never recommended. The experts are all in agreement on this fact: Research shows that spanking does more harm than good. 2. Spanking teaches aggression

The key is that the spanking must be administered in a calm, loving environment. Remember, the focus is on helping a child to learn appropriate behavior, as opposed to simply satisfying a parent’s frustration in the heat of the moment. 2. All children are different Do your research and talk to the people and experts in your life whom you trust. If you choose to spank, work to ensure you are only implementing this form of punishment in the calm and measured way the positive research suggests is necessary for it to be effective. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. It is meant to send a strong message, not to be used on a daily basis. And it should never be motivated by anger or meant to illicit feelings of shame or guilt. Smith, B. L. (2012, April). The case against spanking. American Psychological Association, 43(4),60

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/four-in-five-americans-believe-parents-spanking-their-children-is-sometimes-appropriate-225314281.html Statement by international health organizationsin support of prohibition and elimination of all corporal punishment of children.(n.d.) It should never be used for infants, and rarely for older kids with better communication abilities. But if spanking is an accepted form of punishment in your home, what are the chances that in a moment of anger you might lapse and resort to this punishment when you shouldn’t, or more aggressively than you should?

One thing is clear: Experts in this field stand firm that spanking should only be used in a very specific set of circumstances. That is, for children in the preschool age range that have committed truly willful disobedience — not small acts of defiance.

According to the study, the more children are spanked, the more likely they are to defy their parents and experience: In our household, spanking was a punishment that was dispensed exactly as it’s “meant” to be: calmly, rationally, and with a focus on helping the child to understand the reason for the punishment. http://goodparent.org/corporal-punishment/research-on-corporal-punishment/evidence-favoring-the-use-of-disciplinary-spanking/#_ednref1

This is certainly not the only study of its kind. Plenty of other research exists that highlights the negative effects of spanking. And yet, 81 percent of Americans believe spanking is an acceptable form of punishment. Why the disparity between the research and parental opinion?

Having grown up in a home where spanking was an accepted form of punishment (and neither my brother nor I seem to be irreparably harmed from it), you’d think that today I would be in favor of spanking myself. University of Texas at Austin. (2016, April25). Risks of harm from spanking confirmed by analysis of 5 decades ofresearch. [Press release] But personally, I’m not in favor of it. My daughter is now 3 years old, and it’s never been something I’ve been comfortable with. I have friends who spank, and I don’t for a second judge them for that fact.