Is Spanking an Acceptable Form of Discipline?

Is Spanking an Acceptable Form of Discipline?

You have probably heard the expression, "Spare the rod, spoil the child." Do you agree with it? Perhaps you were spanked as a kid. Was it appropriate? Some people see spanking as an outdated method of punishment or even child abuse, while others view a swat on the bottom as a parent's prerogative. Where do we draw the line when it comes to disciplining our children?

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John Rosemond

This is Rhetoric

John Rosemond

Parenting Expert

This is rhetoric. Substitute any form of punishment for spanking and the result is equally meaningless. Indeed, effective discipline is the process by which the anti-social child is transformed into a willing disciple who will look up to his parents, follow their lead, and subscribe to their values. It would be lovely, wouldn't it, to think that this could be accomplished without punishing children, but the unfortunate fact is that it can't. Spanking is a valid punishment with certain children in certain situations. It is not a "one size fits all" solution to any misbehavior. Again, the problem is not spanking per se, but the stupid way in which many parents administer spankings.

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Response

Center for Effective Discipline

Spanking is Not a "Valid" Form of Punishment for Children

Center for Effective Discipline

Rosemond claims that the problem is not spanking per se, but “the stupid way in which many parents administer spankings.” That statement is demeaning of parents who are likely to be frustrated by children’s misbehavior and who are only doing what they learned in their own childhoods. Numerous studies reveal that if we were raised with corporal punishment, we will most likely raise our children the same way. We have found in our SpankOut Day USA programs that parents give up spanking when given information about corporal punishment and alternatives.

Rosemond says that spanking is a valid measure of punishment for children. We don’t talk about using hitting as a valid punishment for adults. Would he hit Granny if she didn’t take her medicine? Would he hit his spouse if dinner was late? Hitting adults to change or stop behavior we don’t like is illegal. We should give children the right adults have to be free from physical harm.

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  • John Rosemond
    John Rosemond has worked with families, children, and parents since 1971 in the field of family psychology. In 1971, John earned his masters in psychology from... More

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