Almost every parent in the world has a hard time disciplining their child, and they are forced to hitting and beating their children in order to scare them into obedience. While it may work in preventing them from being disobedient, it is not an effective, long-term solution in teaching them to behave. In my opinion, physical punishment is not the answer to discipline a child rather it is an ineffective and dangerous method of teaching them.
Firstly, young children find it hard to understand why they have been hit by their parent and whether it was something restricted to be done by their parents or were they allowed to exercise it as well. For example, a young child will hit their younger sibling if they are hit by their parent and say they are ‘playing mommy’ hence the entire concept of hitting is distorted and lost. It also inculcates the habit of hitting and becoming violent with their siblings and with other children (Telep).
Secondly, children will feel that once they have gotten a physical punishment from their parent upon doing one thing wrong, they are then free to misbehave another time. The child does not have any feeling of remorse or regret once a beating is given and will always go for the same thing again (Telep).
Moreover, physical punishments provide a free ticket to children to become violent and behave violently in the future, following the footsteps of their parents. Even when confronting others, such children resort to violence as a means of getting themselves heard (Dr. Sears Institute).
Also, physical punishment can make the child hate himself and feel he is unworthy and awful. This is especially true if children are beaten up by their parents in front of others. They think they are bad, and this feeling circulates in their minds, making them think less of themselves (Dr. Sears Institute).
Therefore, physical punishment is never the best way to teach a child. There are many other ways of inculcating discipline and making the child more obedient. Parents should talk about their behavior with them and hear their children as well. This is the best way to teach them and help them become better individuals.
Work Cited
Dr.Sears Institute. “10 reasons not to hit your child | ask Dr. Sears® | the trusted resource for
parents.” Spanking. Ask Dr. Sears® | The Trusted Resource for Parents, 4 Aug. 2013. Web. 2 July 2016.
Telep, Valya. Discipline for young children - discipline and punishment: What is the difference?
1 May 2009. Web. 2 July 2016.
