Spanking as punishment for children
Spanking denotes the use of hands to strike the buttocks of another person to cause physical harm. It can also involve the use of objects such a cane, belt, or whip to beat another. It is a controversial means of discipline for several reasons. It may cause injury to the child, as its sole purpose is to inflict pain. According to the American Psychological Association, spanking relates to such outcomes in children as an increased aggressive behavior, antisocial instances, and also damage to their mental health. Research by Pace, Lee & Grogan (2019) covering 69 countries in the low to medium-income bracket showed that there is a correlation between spanking children at a young age and their socioemotional development in later years. The means of punishment is controversial because despite all the study into its negative impacts, some parents, especially in low-income backgrounds, believe in its effectiveness.
I do not support the use of spanking of children as punishment. It is a violent form of correcting children that, in most cases, hurt them more than teaching them a lesson. It stops bad behavior in children in the short-term because they are afraid of being hit again. However, the long-term consequence is that children develop a view that violence is the best solution to conflicts. Researchers have shown that such physical punishment is harmful and violent against children. At the international front, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child viewed spanking and other forms of physical punishment as a violation of the child’s human rights. It, therefore, issued a directive recommending countries to take steps towards prohibiting such practices in all settings. Apart from that, research also shows that there are other alternatives to spanking children. As young people, children make mistakes and need guidance to learn wrong from right through dedicated and gentle, but still firm means like warnings, showing and telling, enforcing consequences such as taking away a toy or denying some pleasures they enjoy among others.
Despite the view that critics against spanking have and the evidence for the same, there are people who believe and enforce such punishment. According to Philip (2017), supporters of the use of spanking see it as an illustration of nonpermissive. Other people give reasons such as it being how they grew up and then turning out as responsible people; hence, meting out the same on their children. Other people with the same view may also give reasons such as following God’s bill by using a morally neutral child-rearing tool. Some parents may even see it as a way of psychic release or enforcing respect from their children. All these reasons point towards ensuring that children fear their parents and guardians. However, such children may only pay attention to the pain and work towards avoiding them, and not the wrongdoing that resulted in the punishment.
As a parenting specialist, I would advise a new parent that building a trusting relationship with their child is crucial. Children should be able to live freely and play around without fearing punishment. They need a friendly and conducive environment for expressing themselves while learning. As a result, excellent parenting involves showing and telling them what is wrong and why. It also includes telling such children the consequences of not heeding advice. When they do wrong, the parent should sit down with them and talk to them. The child should be able to recognize their mistake and promise to work on it. Outstanding parenting also involves positive reinforcement so that the child knows what is right and pleasing to the parent. Coatsworth et al. (2018) show that parent mindfulness leads to lower rates of youth behavior related to delinquency or substance abuse.