The subject of spanking children is one that is very controversial the world over. Many states in the USA have completely banned child abuse while different countries around the world have banned corporal punishment in schools. One of the main reasons why spanking children is a problem in many nations around the world is based on the belief that spanking is a form of child abuse. Spanking children have been associated with child abuse because of the results that occur once a parent hits a child.
Many reports have been given in cases when parents hit and badly injured their children. Such actions are not considered methods of disciplining a child but are viewed as harsh methods of punishment. Many people believe that spanking a child is wrong and should never be practiced, while others believe that if spanking is done reasonably, then it should lead to the desired effects of good behavior. Therefore, this paper seeks to argue that spanking a child can lead to the desired form of behavior if practiced with caution, control, reason, and with love and caring by the parent or guardian.
One research study reports that spanking a child with moderation serves as a better method of reinforcing the desired behavior among children. The expected outcome of spanking will only take place if the parent or the guardian practice spanking with caution (Pingleton). The study acknowledges that parents have several methods that they can use to discipline their children, and spanking is one of them. Similarly, it is important to differentiate between discipline and punishment. Discipline is the method used to reinforce behavior without causing harm to the child (Kvols). On the other hand, punishment usually inflicts pain and is accompanied by anger and emotional outburst from parents. This is the main reason why many people view spanking from a negative perspective.
Mild spanking can help parent eradicate the unwanted behaviors among children. The act of using mild spanking can also help children grow into responsible adolescent and adults who are happy and healthy. The act of using moderate methods of spanking is important because it will help the child to know and learn the desired actions and behavior (Ingram).
This is especially so because the parents using mild spanking will always practice caution and spank the child with love and kindness. However, it is important for a parent to take care not to use spanking more often. This is because constantly spanked children develop aggressive behaviors and emotional disorders. Some children who are constantly spanked with emotional exhibitions from their parents also tend to be abusive in nature. They develop characters such as spanking their dolls, younger siblings, and even their friends at home or school (Igram).
Studies indicate that mild spanking should be used sparingly at all times by parents. However, before a child is spanked, it is important that the parent talks to the child about the bad behavior. They should caution the child of the oncoming spanking. For example, the parent should let the child know that he or she will receive a spank if they persist on doing the wrong behavior. Therefore, spanking should be administered within proper guidelines (Kettle). Spanking is different from abusing and is one example of discipline methods that most parents should use albeit sparingly.
Mild and controlled spanking is a method that works well with preschoolers. However, the method should never be used on infants (Duke). Studies show that children have different understanding abilities that do not develop in the infant stage of development. On the same note, it might be hard for parents to reason out with their children because reasoning in children is not well developed at that stage (Kvols). On the same note, combining reasoning and taking privileges away might not work well with children because they do not have proper cognitive or mental capacities to make them fully understand why such opportunities are taken away from them.
Similarly, different children have a different understanding and react differently to various situations (Duke). Therefore, it is important for parents to choose the right methods and procedures of disciplining their children based on the magnitude of the problem caused. Parent should be able to understand the different levels of cognitive development among children and award spanking appropriately.
For example, in as much as mild spanking is good, not all circumstances call for even the mildest form of spanking. They should also understand that the art of spanking should not lead to causing of bodily, emotional and mental harms to the child. However, it should be aimed at reinforcing the desired behaviors at the right stage. Similarly, parents should aim to phase out spanking towards the end of childhood and before the beginning of adolescent (Pingleton). This means that by the time the child becomes an adolescent, they should no longer be spanked. Instead, the parents should resolve to other methods of discipline such as talking and explaining the reasons why the exhibited behavior is wrong
An adolescent has a well development cognitive ability and even mental understanding. They can differentiate the wrong from the right behaviors. Nonetheless, even at this stage, some children may fail to understand why their parents are too hard on them. Therefore, parents should choose other better methods of reinforcing behavior instead of spanking (Duke). For example, they can talk to their adolescent and guide them thought the acquisition of the right and desired behaviors.
They should aim to make them understand that some actions are not acceptable and even explain the negative consequences of these unwanted behaviors (Pingleton). They can also give their adolescent effective lesson o factors such as obedience and choosing right friend so that they can learn to inculcate the right methods of actions. On the same note, parents may help their young one understand and acquire the desired behavior by encouraging them to emulate the right behavior. This requires that the parents too should exhibit and be on their best behaviors all the time so as not to appear hypocritical before their children (Ingram).
On the same note, those who oppose spanking by terming it a form of child abuse should know that there are various differences between spanking and child abuse. In this regard, forms of punishment that cause pain to children are clear examples of child abuse (Kvols). Any parent who hits a child to the extent of causing bodily harm to that child is obviously abusing the child. Recent reports of parents and other prominent people who beat their children and caused them bodily harm were not intending to discipline but harm them. Punishing a child is not the best method of reinforcing the desired behavior among children. This is because abused children not only suffer physical nut metal harmed.
Research shows that children who undergo constant punishment methods that inflict pain grow up with different disabilities (Kettle). For example, apart from being aggressive, they become fearful of other people around them. Such children may also persist on doing the undesired behavior by relying on the thoughts that even if they do something right their parents or guardians will only punish them. They become immune to forms of punishment and grow up with negative behaviors. Therefore, to avoid issues that lead to punishing children parent must learn to understand their methods and approaches for correcting different behaviors exhibited by their children. Most importantly, before a parent can take on any method of correcting a child when they commit a mistake, they should first understand their inner feeling and examine the problem peaceably so that they do not harm the child (Kvols). Self-assessment for emotionally disturbed parents is very important to prevent them from hurting their children in the name of disciplining them.
In conclusion, disciplining children is one factor that many parents must have to deal with. All parents want well-behaved children. Many parents turn to spanking as a method of disciplining their children. However, the acts of spanking children have been met with controversy over the last decades in many countries around the globe. It is important for people and parents to know that mild spanking is a better method of disciplining and reinforcing good behaviors among children. The process should be used for preschoolers but not adolescents. On the same note, parents should aim to face out mild spanking at the adolescent stage.
However, it is also important for a parent to know and understand the difference between punishment and spanking. Punishments arise from vetted anger and cause several degrees of harm to the child. Punishments lead to the development of undesired behaviors such as aggressions among punished children and in the end, it manifests into child abuse. However, mild spanking administered with love, caution and care make children acquire the desired behavior. The children also grow up to be happy, healthy, and responsible adults. Therefore, it is okay to use mild spanking as a means of disciplining children.
Works Cited
Duke, Selwyn. "New Study Finds Spanking Is Good for Kids." 2010.
Ingram, Chip. "The Biblical Approach to Spanking." Parenting. 2015.
Kettle, Theodore. "Pro-Spanking Studies May Have Global Effect." 2010.
Kvols, Kathryn. "9 Things to do Instead of Spanking." 2014.
Pingleton, Jared. "Spanking Can Be an Appropriate Form of Child Discipline." 2014.
