To spank or not to spank

To Spank or Not to Spank?

Is spanking an effective means of discipline for kids, or does it merely teach
them to be violent? Fewer topics have generated so much emotion as whether to
spank or not. First, what does the law say? Is it illegal to spank your kids?
The answer is no-but parents who spank must be very careful to avoid running
afoul of the law. Colorado law defines child abuse to include any case in which
a child exhibits evidence of skin bruising, bleeding, failure to thrive, burns,
fractures, etc. and the condition is not justifiably explained or the
circumstances indicate that the condition was not accidental. For purposes of
the child abuse law, parental discipline through spanking may not be
justifiable if the child is bruised or otherwise injured. Thus, spanking is not
illegal, but injuring a child is.

Apart from the legalities, is spanking a good idea? Does it work? According to
the American Academy of Pediatrics, about 90 percent of U.S. parents spank,
and about 59 percent of pediatricians in a 1992 survey said they support the
practice. According to the academy, effective discipline has three key
components: first, a loving, supportive relationship between parent and child;
second, use of positive reinforcement when children behave well; and third,
use of punishment when children misbehave. Many parents these days are fearful
of using spanking as punishment, either because of the law or because they fear
it teaches violence to their kids.

Some professional organizations of physicians and psychologists have suggested
that spanking is detrimental and leads to family violence and child abuse. They
have suggested that spanking teaches physically aggressive behavior which the
child will imitate. But does the research support these assertions? According
to the National Institute for Healthcare Research, more than 80 percent of the
professional publications attacking spanking were reviews and commentaries,
rather than quantitative research. When analyzing the small portion of
quantitative studies that included spanking, more than 90 percent of these
studies lumped together mild forms of spanking with severe forms of physical
abuse without discussing why they did so. Thus, the professional organizations
which advocated outlawing spanking evidently made their decisions without the
benefit of the facts. Mild spanking and severe child abuse are not the same
thing.

While spanking is not illegal, bruising or otherwise injuring a child is. But
what about mild spanking as a corrective measure? Is it a good idea? Spanking
works best when coupled with other disciplinary measures, such as "time out."
Research regarding behavior modification of children ages 2 to 6 found that
spanking a child two times on either the rear or thigh helped improve
compliance with "time out" for misbehavior. These children were more likely to
remain in their room after acting up if a potential spank followed if they
left before the time was up. Furthermore, pairing reasoning with a spanking in
the toddler years delayed misbehavior longer than did either reasoning or
spanking alone. Reasoning linked with a spank was also more effective
compared with other discipline methods. Talking with the child about what
behavior is expected and why-with the potential of a follow-up spank-worked
best.

According to Physician magazine, spanking should be used selectively for clear,
deliberate misbehavior, especially a child's persistent defiance of a parent.
It should be used only when the child receives at least as much praise for good
behavior as correction for problem behavior. Verbal correction, time out and
logical consequences should be used initially, followed by spanking when
noncompliance persists. Only a parent should administer a spanking, not another
person. Spanking should never be administered on impulse or when a parent is
out of control. Parents sometimes need a time out too. Spanking is
inappropriate before 15 months of age, should be less necessary after 6 years,
and rarely, if ever, used after 10 years of age. Spanking should always be
administered in private. Appropriate spanking only leaves temporary redness
of skin, and never bruises or injures. Spanking works, but must be used
thoughtfully and carefully in conjunction with other disciplinary measures.


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Family Council.

Doan