Smacking Children: Is it Effective?

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As children grow up, they should learn to have control over their behavior. Parents play a crucial role for helping their children doing so. In order for a child to be self-disciplined, it is essential that at a younger age limits and reasons for these limits are set by parents. It is significant that parents know which way to use, and how to help their children. It is true that children need to have boundaries, but, trying to set them through the use of smacking is not a solution. According to Phillips and Alderson refers to, “lawful parental violence against children, from the ‘tap’ to the ‘belt’ and beyond” (1). Smacking as a way of having control over the children has no long term positive effects, even though, some would argue that it should not be criminalized since they see smacking as a way of disciplining children. Some argue that does not leave marks and cannot be persecuted and according to some smacking is not considered violence. Phillips and Alderson claim that, “there is much evidence that smacking children is unnecessary and dangerous, and yet smacking continues to be widely practiced” (2). Moreover, smacking has many long term negative effects thus, it should be criminalized. If a child is smacked at an early age chances are high that he/she will have behavioral and psychological problems. Smacking is considered domestic violence and no one has the right to violate children’s human rights. Parents have the right to choose whether they want to smack their children or not. As Whiting demonstrates, “parents are responsible for guiding and controlling the behavior of their children and instilling good moral values” (1). It is their right to decide which way is mostly suitable to them for disciplining their childre... ... middle of paper ... ...y The ‘Gentle Smack’ Should Go." Children & Society 11.3 (1997): 201- 204. Academic Search Elite. Web. 12 Feb. 2012. Phillips, Ben, and Priscilla Alderson. "Beyond 'Anti-Smacking': Challenging Violence And Coercion In Parent-Child Relations." International Journal Of Children's Rights 11.2 (2003): 175-197. Academic Search Elite. Web. 12 Feb. 2012. Robinson, Bessie. "'Child Smacking Law Could Brand You as Criminal'" Northern Echo (19 Apr. 2000): 15. ABI/INFORM Complete. Web. 20 Feb. 2012. Slade, A. M., and C. R. Tapping. "Paediatricians’ Views On Smacking Children As A Form Of Discipline." European Journal Of Pediatrics 167.5 (2008): 603-605. Academic Search Elite. Web. 6 Feb. 2012. Whiting, Lisa, and Mark Whiting. "Smacking." Paediatric Nursing 16.8 (2004): 26-28. Academic Search Elite. Web. 6 Feb. 2012.

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