Why Children Spank

In this day and time to spank or not to spank is an issue of controversy. Not so long ago one could beat their wife, husband or children and that was considered a family matter for others to stay out of. Today some still hold on to the thought of it’s not their business while others say oh, yes, it is their business in spite of where it takes place at.
There is a line between spanking and beating. Since everyone has a mind of their own it can not be assumed everyone is on the same page with what those lines are; for everyone has a different interpretation of those lines.
We all have values and beliefs. Many of those values and beliefs are instilled from our parents and others involved in our lives while we are growing up. We may also choose
Yet, as Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, founder of the Child Development Unit at the Boston Children’s Hospital Medical Center, points out, “When you spank, you are not respectful of the child.” No wonder children are confused, perplexed, and bewildered. Spanking ignores the causes of the problem. For example, a child is taken to an amusement park for a day’s enjoyment. Instead of being grateful (so the parents think), the child acts up, embarrassing the parents in public. Result? The child is quickly escorted to the washroom, where it receives a spanking. But the child was “acting up” because of normal needs it had. It may have been hungry, tired, or bored. So, we punish children for being children! Sometimes it takes a little work to find the cause of a child’s “misbehavior.” If the parents are impatient, they may turn to spanking, which provides a quick, easy fix. Let’s not pretend spanking is for the child’s own good. It is not. It’s for our convenience. If spanked, the child is shortchanged, robbed of important quality time with their parent. Ironically, the more quality time is denied, the more the child will misbehave, as that is the only way it knows to get attention. I guess the moral is, we cannot correct a child’s misbehavior unless we know the cause. So, instead of hitting, let’s talk. Instead of displaying anger, let’s shower our child with love. Not very many years
There are multiple other more productive ways to disciple children. Research states the goal to not control the child’s behavior but rather teach them how to control their own behavior in a positive manner.
Spanking children in school used to be acceptable. Where I attended school I remember a wood paddle hanging outside the principal’s office, visual reminder of why you did not want to get sent there. These days spanking is no longer acceptable in schools.
It will be interesting to see how this issue revolves through the decades. Baby boomers were a generation that was spanked as children; it’s now their grand kids and great grand kids that there is such controversy over spanking. Will these generations grow up to appreciate a different form of discipline or will they say I wish somebody had spanked my butt when I done