Don't Spank Me

Don’t Spank Me! The definition of Corporal punishment is that act of causing pain to someone without leaving injury. It has been a controversial topic between generations for years whether physical discipline should or should not be allowed for children. More than ninety percent of American families discipline their kids before the age of one. Studies show that one in five kids are hit when they are infants and it continues until they move out of their home. Corporal punishment is one of the worst ways that a person can discipline a child for misbehaving when so many other nonviolent alternatives exist. Physical punishment is almost exactly like physical abuse, minus the fact that corporal punishment does not leave injuries to a person. Physical discipline is a terrible way to punish a child. Children are made to make mistakes; they do not know when they do wrong. Parents must teach them right from wrong. It is hard for children under the age of two to comprehend what they did wrong. Physically punishing them will make no sense because they will not know why they are being hit. Corporal punishment is inhumane. America no longer permits hitting of servants, apprentices, wives, prisoners, and members of the armed forces. If America has these restrictions against violence, then it should not be okay to hit children. Spanking is a violation to a child’s human rights. They are not old enough to understand and speak out to protect themselves, which makes certain cases of physical punishment unfair. Behaviorist B.F. Skinner, who pioneered in the study of behavior control using punishments and rewards, said “I found that aversive measures may lead, not to obedience, but to escape or aggression” (ASFAR). Skinner’s studies show that many kids lead to violent behavior after frequent physical punishment. This is why parents should look at different ways of punishing young children. Corporal Punishment spreads mixed messages to children. A child who is physically punished could take the point that a parent is trying to teach them completely different. Physical discipline can eventually become a bigger problem for children. Studies show that when a child is smacked repeatedly, they start to think that violence is that answer to their problems. This can lead to a child becoming abusive to others when they are older. Other messages sent out to kids can be bad results. Behavioral physiologist, Denise A, Donnelly, said “The consequences of corporal punishment can be a post- traumatic stress syndrome that creates deep, lifetime physiological problems, such a depression and suicidal thinking” (Straus). Donnelly’s studies show what corporal punishment can do to children. Many people tend to disagree with Donnelly’s statement; however, there have been multiple cases of kids diagnosed with post-traumatic stress syndrome. Spanking also can send a message to children that they are good to do whatever, until they are caught. Kids who are physically punished usually believe this because their motivation to change their behavior is the fear of pain, rather than the desire to do the right thing. The immediate compliance in spanking a child is temporary. When a kid is spanked they stop misbehaving at that specific time, it typically does not refrain the child from repeating the wrong behavior again later on. Corporal punishment does not teach a child why something is wrong, it just teaches them that they are fine, until they get caught. Neil Izenberg, a child behavioral specialist, explained “It’s important to not spank, hit, or slap a child of any age. Babies and toddlers are especially unlikely to be able to make any connection between their behavior and physical punishment. They will only feel the pain of the hit” (Block). This is another example of how corporal punishment does not help punish a child in anyway. Most cases show that it stops a kid from misbehaving at that time, but the behavior is repeated later on. Parents are able to use multiple different discipline methods. There are many other alternatives that could be used to help punish a child. When a child, it creates fear and pain to stop them from misbehaving. Though many people believe physical discipline works, studies show that other, more consistent methods of punishments are better. Some examples of different discipline methods were tested on children without the use of corporal punishment. The results from these tests were very positive and show how uses of nonphysical punishment can help a child. There are many alternatives to corporal discipline. For example: Positive reinforcement is used to treat a child for being well behaved. Many parents use this type of instructional training to get children to behave. This method is highly used in preschools and daycare centers to get a child to cooperate with them. It shows a child that good actions can lead to fun and exciting activities depending on the choice of present for behavior. Grounding a child or taking away his or her privileges is another form of noncorporal punishment. Being sent to their room, not being able to hangout with friends and no television or cell phone use are a few ways that parents ground their kids. This disciplines children for misbehaved actions. It will help them remember that what they did was wrong and it happens again the punishment could be worse. There is also the usual “time outs” whish is probably the most widely used method for young kids. Time outs are very helpful for toddlers. Many babysitters, parents and teachers use this method as a threat to children to get them to behave. A child will understand a noncorporal punishment better. Stanley I. Greenspan, a clinical professor for behavioral science, said “If the child knows that rewards and punishments in advance and knows that his parents will stick to them, the parents can actually empathize with the child’s plight while, at the same time, creating a firm sense of structure…. Your child will sense your resolve and your empathy whether you do this with words or just a sense of warmth” Kids can see when a parent is trying to punish them. They will understand their punishment better without violence!