Various issues arise in families and many of those problem cause controversies and different opinions. One of such problems is spanking children. One part of parents sticks to one educational methods, while others prefer different means of raising their kids. Spanking children is a wide-known method of trying to teach kids of what is right and what is wrong, because the fear of physical punishment might make children behave better and not to do certain things. Still, different families have different views on this issue. It is always challenging to raise kids, because numerous factors have an influence on their behaviors and the formation of personal characteristics. Some parents believe that spanking may be good prophylactic measures for future behavior, while another portion of families sticks to the point of view that spanking may cause a higher level of aggression in children. Spanking is one of the educational methods that parents should avoid and raise their children without physical punishment.
The majority of researched articles argues against spanking and considers spanking children to be a dangerous measure of raising and educating children, because it can cause a lot of harm in future. While some parents believe that spanking can teach their children better behaviors, they face a problem that actual physical punishment has radically different implications. By spanking, parents can cause such problems as a high level of fear, poor self-esteem, excessive expression of violence, and, spanking can lead to physical dangers, if parents do not measure their forces. With time, parents need to increase the level of physical punishment, because children stop to react at their actions. It already signalizes that spanking does not have benefits for children upbringing. Moreover, the belief that spanking might be effective is wrong, because many studies have shown that in the long-rung spanking children leads to high levels of misbehavior and aggression, rather than minimizing bad behaviors (Waters, 2016).
Many researches have shown that “physical punishment, including spanking, can lead to increased aggression, antisocial behavior, physical injury and mental health problems for children” (Smith, 2012). In such a way, spanking can become a very dangerous measure for the formation of children’s characters and for the expression of their feelings. Kids tend to take an example from their parents and from their behaviors and habits, which is the expression of anger or teaching by physical abuse, may teach kids that only with physical force they can get something in future. In addition, spanking children brings harm to their emotional stability and their reactions to different things. It is important for kids to enjoy life and to see positive settings around them, in order to learn good things and to grow up as adequate and healthy individuals. Physical punishment within a family may lead to serious problems for children, which may reveal themselves much later, for instance, during teenage period, which is one of the toughest (Smith, 2012).
Another important argument against spanking children is that the society can view any types of physical punishment for children as a serious violation of human rights. In the year 2006, The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has issues a special directive that has names any types of physical punishment as ‘legalized violence against children’. In addition, that directive stated that all families should eliminate those measures from their activities. Many countries have banned physical abuse of children in various situations. Spanking, as one of the forms of physical punishments is also a problem that requires attention and that falls under the category of ‘legalized violence against children’. Parents should use other educational tools and methods, rather than turning to physical punishment in attempts to teach their children (Smith, 2012).
Still, there is another view on the issue of spanking, because a certain part of parents still believes that physical punishment can be effective for the upbringing of their kids. Though the level of physical punishment has significantly decreased throughout previous decades, still around two-thirds of American approve that spanking can take place within families (Smith, 2012). In such a way, there is a perspective that spanking can be very effective and can help to minimize undesirable behaviors in children. The point is that sometimes taking away certain privileges (what parents often do) may not work out, and in this case, spanking at appropriate levels can become a good way of teaching a kid and giving him a lesson for the future. Parents have an ultimate power over their children and have a right to shape their kids personalities. Thus, one side of society argues for spanking and strongly believes that spanking can become a good guide for children to become good responsible adults in future. Parents that practice spanking and those who argue for this measure are guided by the principle: “We will not go wrong if we exercise a firm and consistent hand with a soft and loving heart” (Pingleton, 2014). Still, even administers of spanking note that it is crucial not to practice physical punishment during infant age and to stop it completely by adolescence, because in this case, it can cause serious problems in the formation of one’s personality (Pingleton, 2014).
Therefore, spanking is a very controversial issue and raises many debates. We can see two different perspectives, and each of them has its arguments in defense. However, physical punishment remains to be a violation of human rights, and this point should emphasize that this violation may have different implications in the process of upbringing your children. As far as the researched showed high level of aggression in future, many families should significantly reconsider their attitude towards spanking. Parents can practice various methods of educating their children and can implement various practices that do not include any types of physical punishment. It is possible to find other ways, rather than spanking, of explanation certain things to kids and of showing what is wrong and what is right.
References
Pingleton, J. (2014, September 16). Spanking Can Be an Appropriate Form of Child Discipline. Retrieved April 13, 2016, from http://time.com/3387226/spanking-can-be-an-appropriate-form-of-child-discipline/
Smith, B. L. (2012). The case against spanking. PsycEXTRA , 43(4), 60. doi:10.1037/e540732012-027
Waters, R. (2016, January 20). Spanking: The Case Against It (Ages 6 to 12). Retrieved April 13, 2016, from http://consumer.healthday.com/encyclopedia/children-s-health-10/child-development-news-124/spanking-the-case-against-it-ages-6-to-12-646298.html
