To Spank or Not to Spank: That is the Question

In today’s society spanking your child is viewed as a form of abuse and seen as unnecessary. A lot of people believe that if you apply the correct, non-contact discipline, then spanking should never be enforced. That being said, there are still a lot of people who believe spanking is not only okay and within their rights as parents, but they also view it as necessary. So who’s right here and who is wrong?

To Spank

Some of the parents who believe in spanking may only act on it under very specific circumstances. Take, for example, a child that is engaging in something dangerous like constantly darting out into the street and the word “no” is not working. These parents believe that giving their child a little swat on the bottom or hand may be the shocker for them that sends the message that running out into the street is absolutely not okay.

Then there are those who spank their child for everything they do that is not okay. Pitching a fit? Spank. Coloring on the walls? Spank. Acting out in public? Spank. A lot of these parents may have been spanked themselves as children and feel it helped them learn right from wrong, how to respect authority, etc. To them, spanking is not only okay, but it is a necessity for the proper rearing of their child.

Not to Spank

Those parents who do not believe or engage in spanking adhere to the adage that if disciplined properly there is no need to spank. Most view the punishment of spanking as a form of physical, mental and emotional abuse. Under no circumstance is spanking necessary or okay to do.

The child that darts out into the street can be taught properly through positive discipline just as the child who throws fits, colors on walls and acts out in public can be. Many of these parents who do not spank also believe that if a child is spanked excessively and too often the punishment loses its tactic as a serious reprimand and the child can become immune to it altogether. It is also theorized that too much spanking can generated aggressive behavior.

That is the Question

So should you spank your child, or shouldn’t you? Perhaps the answer for some is yes and no. Maybe there is a happy medium. Unless someone uses excessive force or objects like paddles and belts, spanking might actually be a good thing in certain instances.

Yes, you have to be consistent and persistent when disciplining your child, but when your child’s actual well-being is at risk a little swat may be what they need; for the shock factor.

In the end, what works for one child may not work or even be appropriate for another child. And whether to spank or not to spank will be a hot-button issue for quite some time.


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