Every parent has a different opinion on what is the correct way to discipline children, although they all want the same result: a well-behaved child. Every child has a different way of thinking, so it is the parent’s job to figure out which disciplinary method works the best for them. There is a wide variety of ways to teach children right from wrong. Countless amounts of parents feel spanking is the most effective way to discipline. With that being said, there is also controversy over whether spanking is an acceptable method for discipling youth. According to Sarah Smenyak, a specialist in counseling and human services, “If parents choose to spank their child, it should not be done in a way that causes injury to the child, violates the child or causes humiliation to the child” (The Difference Between Discipline and Child Abuse). Spanking in public or even in a household becomes abusive when an endeavor to control a child becomes excessive and a child is wounded as a result. If used in the correct way, with only intentions of teaching a child the difference between what is right and what is wrong, spanking can be an acceptable way to do so in many different person's point of view. Some children are so stubborn it seems that almost nothing can be done to break their bad behaviors. With some other cases, spanking can not only scare a child enough to keep them from misbehaving again, but it can also help them to learn from their mistakes and help apply those learnings to
Many see spanking as a form of parental rights and that the parent has the right to raise their child the way they consider most appropriate. Those in favor of spanking, also hold there is little evidence that moderate spanking is harmful. Further, many believe that discipline problems among children have recently increased, and partially attribute the boost to the decline of both parental authority and the use of spanking.
A recent study shows 70 percent of parents believe it is right to discipline a child through physical means. Most commonly, parents will spank their children but being hit with things like belts or other objects happens as well. Parenting methods haven’t changed much with time and discipline in similar no matter the country. With more studies out to find the most effective method of parenting and discipline it’s coming to attention whether or not physical harm is the best way to teach children. Parents want what is best for their children, so it is important to constantly bring up and question methods commonly accepted in the past. One method that is becoming more controversial is spanking children. Though it is still considered normal to do, it is gaining more traction and more studies are being done to find the problems it causes. Checking on parenting methods can be difficult as everyone is raised differently. It is also difficult to test which forms of punishment lead to certain outcomes. However, there is a trend of negative effects from hitting. Gershoff acknowledges, “several national professional organizations have called on parents to abandon spanking as a child rearing practice and for professionals to recommend disciplinary alternatives to spanking.” Spanking children is a terrible discipline method as it has negative effects.
According to Prevent Child Abuse North Dakota, “The goal of discipline is to create an orderly, predictable, stable, and fun world to enjoy and grow healthy.” When it comes to discipling a child, there are many different courses of action that could be taken. Parents can and should discipline their children (Smenyak). There is a large controversy over the most universal discipline method there is, spanking. Many parents believe that spanking their child can be a beneficial way of correcting a child if done correctly (Smenyak). Other parents believe that spanking a child is simply abuse, that it does not work, or that “Spanking plants a seed for later violent behavior,” says AskDrSears.com.
The term discipline derives from the root word “disciple” which means “to teach.” Spanking has been around since the beginning of time. For decades spanking has been an acceptable form of discipline. Yet not every parent uses spanking as a means to correct their children. Some may say that spanking your child is a form of child abuse, then there are those that may say spanking may be a fitting form of discipline depending on what the child is being punished for. Can both forms of discipline be acceptable? Parents have been entrusted with the incredible privilege and responsibility of shaping their children’s behavior in a positive direction.
It could even teach them a lesson. But there is no positive outcomes that come from spanking. Spanking your children leads to depression, bad behavior, and it doesn’t improve their behavior; therefore you should not spank your kids.
Have you ever been spanked as a kid and felt angry towards your parents? Did you feel they just hated you? Spanking is a form of corporal punishment which is a punishment intended to cause pain in many different ways. Corporal punishment started in slavery and led to schools and homes. Although many states have banned corporal punishment it is still allowed in 19 out of 50 states. Many adults will agree children just need a ‘good ol’e spanking’ and others will argue that it is a negative way to parent and causes more problems. Spanking children is not a proper way of parenting because it gives a negative effect on children.
The main reason that parents use spanking as a discipline technique is because it is what they received when they were children. However, in many cases spanking has nothing to do with helping the child. It is used as a quick solution to stop negative behavior with no real regard for the long-term outcome. Parents often spank their children because they themselves are angry. These parents simply cannot handle a situation and take it out on their child. Spanking might be more accepted if it was the only, or the most successful, form of discipline, but it is not. Spanking is simply a short-term fix of a child 's discipline problems. Two of the widely used alternatives to spanking are the time-out and restriction punishments. Time-out is most effective when administered to children under ten years of age, and a restriction mostly benefits children over ten years old. Both of these methods, while effective, also have a positive influence on the child, they teach the child discipline without the use of force, help the child
In conclusion, parents should try alternative forms of punishment, before resulting to spanking. Also, parents should not exceed spanking due to the harm it may cause your child physically and or mentally. Lastly, parents may want to discipline their child until they show a sign of remorse or acceptance to the crime they have
According to Good Parents,” Spanking has been defined as “physically non-injurious, intended to modify behavior and administered by the open hand to extremities or buttocks.” It is important to define Spanking, parents or caregiver they can understand and learn the differences of Spanking and Child Abuse. Spanking is something parents do out of love in order to discipline a child. Because, parent they’re responsible for discipline their children’s
Spanking has been a controversial topic among many parents. Some believe it is just a form of discipline and is okay, while others believe that this is abuse or violence and it will harm the child in the long run.
Spanking is considered a form of corporal punishment, and depending on what one’s view, belief or stance on corporal punishment weighs heavily in determining their views and beliefs on how to discipline kids. Corporal punishment is the striking of a child with an open hand, typically on the buttocks with the sole intention of modifying behavior without causing physical injury. Spanking is used to modify misconduct and misbehavior, and generally is done by using hands. When either one is executed in an excessive manner and uses harmful items and becomes excessive is then quite frankly seen, viewed and deemed as child abuse.
Many people believe that "a quick swat" from them to their child sends a clear message and is effectual discipline when included with loving remarks and in consistent fashion. I believe this view is the best way to help us understand the question: "is it ever appropriate to spank a child?" I believe that the answer that most definitely does not solve this question is that disciplining a child with spanking is alright when nothing else will work, or when the parent has "had enough." This could lead to abuse and/or psychosocially damaging discipline sessions. The context is that all-important factor that defines whether the discipline is appropriate or not. Unfortunately, many parents may have inherited foolish discipline
Spanking has become an arguably debatable form of discipline. According to a study at the University of Texas, the more children are spanked, the more likely they are to defy their parents (“Spanking: Pros and Cons”). There is a connection between spanking during the childhood and mental health diagnoses later in life. There are other options of discipling your child than spanking them, especially because all children can take spanking differently. Parents should not spank their child because it showers that being “stronger” is right, demonstrates that older people have a right to hit younger people, and gives the examples that violence solves all problems.
The second reason why spanking should not be done to children is the fact that it is a form of child abuse. At the moment, countries are divided as to legalize corporal punishment or create a law saying it is illegal. In the book written by Abela (2007) for the Council of Europe, she notes that “spanking of children less than two years old increases the risk of severe physical injury and the child is unlikely to understand the connection between behavior and punishment.” Most parents tend to go overboard when disciplining their children, especially when they are very angry and have not subdued their anger. This then makes the child their venting medium to get rid of that anger and sometimes, they do not apologize and even forget why they have done the deed. Other parents tend to make this a habit and even if the child did nothing wrong, they would still continue spanking the child. Eventually, the parents may slowly abuse the child through pain and totally make the child’s life a complete hell. As a result, child becomes frail and suffers psychological problems. Some countries, especially social services, use this as grounds to get the child away from the family and file cases of child abuse and physical injury that can lead to jail time if proven guilty. Spanking may also cause scarring and may be with the child
Today, there is a common misconception that spanking is a form of child abuse. Some parents are actually afraid to discipline their own children using the same method used for their own upbringing. Who is correct in the notion of right and wrong discipline? Is there such a thing as a correct way to spank your child? In my opinion, there is. So, my objective is to show that there is a fine line between the two terms Spanking and Child abuse. A Cambridge Dictionary states that Child Abuse occurs “when adults intentionally treat children in a cruel or violent way.” On the other hand, Spanking in the same dictionary means “to hit a child with the hand, usually several times on the bottom as a punishment.” In this way, the line between the two can be drawn where too much spanking results in bruises and scars on the child. Therefore, parents should not spank their children when they are angry themselves as the spank would turn out to be an unintentional smack. When this occurs, parents tend to accidently take out their frustration on the child. Primarily, this is when Spanking, a form of discipline, starts drifting towards the entire concept of ‘child abuse’.