Spanking Should Not Be Used By Parents To Discipline Their Children

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Corporal punishment, or “spanking”, has been used by many cultures around the world throughout history. It is an immediate remedy to bad behavior in children and has been heralded for its effectiveness by its proponents. However, there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that spanking is more effective than other forms of discipline. There are multiple studies and experiments which demonstrate that corporal punishment can cause long term physical, emotional and mental injury to children. Because of this evidence, and the fact that the line between corporal punishment and abuse varies so much from person to person, spanking should not be used by parents to discipline their children. Spanking advocates give many reasons why spanking should be used in the home, many of which are …show more content…

Effective methods of behavior modification focus primarily on positive reinforcement, logical consequences, and healthy interactions between parents and children. Disciplinary methods should, if used properly, engender trust within the relationship. Children learn to trust that their parents will be consistent and fair, and use that knowledge to develop a better framework for understanding the world around them. By acting out of love, with the best interest of the child in mind, parents are able to gently guide their children away from potential danger, towards a happier and healthier lifestyle. Parents should never scold, lecture or yell at children, especially out of anger.
Logical consequences are usually the most effective method of discipline, because they establish a direct relationship between a child’s actions and outcomes. If a child rides their bike in the street, they may lose their privilege to ride the bike. This example clearly demonstrates to the child the result of the bad behavior, while reducing the likelihood that the behavior will be

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