CORPORAL PUNISHMENT

There is evidence that punitive parents produce more aggressive children than less punitive parents. Therefore, should all parents give up punishments as a method of discipline for their children. Why?

There is evidence that punitive parents produce more aggressive children than less punitive parents.  However, that doesn’t mean parents should give up punishments as a method of discipline for their children but rather parents should look into what type of punishment or effective discipline method is needed in order to guide and teach their children.

Good guidance and discipline are not always easy for most parents. Sometimes parents don’t know what is best to do.  Discipline is a way to correct and to teach children. It needs to make sense to them. It must help them feel good about themselves. It needs to give them a chance to correct their mistakes.  Guidance is not punishment. Punishment only tells children that they are bad. For instance, spanking our children doesn’t teach them what they should do. It may teach them that it is all right to hit people. We need to have a few simple rules, making sure that our children understand them, and stick to them. We need to explain to them what will happen or what will be the consequences if they break a rule.

The purpose of punishment is to stop a child from doing what you don't want - and using a painful or unpleasant method to stop him.

There are basically four kinds of punishment: 1) physical punishment - slapping, spanking, switching, paddling, and using a belt or hair brush;  2) verbal punishment - shaming, ridiculing, using cruel words, saying "I don't love you."; 3) withholding rewards - "You can't watch TV if you don't do your homework."; and 4) penalties - "You broke the window so you will have to pay for it with money from your allowance."

The first two kinds of punishment, physical and verbal, are not considered to be effective discipline methods. The other two, withholding rewards and giving penalties, can be used either as effective discipline methods or as punishment - depending on how parents administer them.

Why Physical Punishment Doesn't Work

Physical punishment usually doesn't work for several reasons. First, it makes the child hate himself and others. Physical punishment makes the child think that there must be something awfully wrong with him to be treated so badly. If children think they are "bad," then they will act "bad." A vicious cycle is formed. The child who has been treated harshly has no reason to be good. Or he may be good just to keep from being punished and not learn to be good because he thinks it is the right thing to do.

Parents who use physical punishment are setting an example of using violence to settle problems or solve conflicts, Children imitate their parents' behavior. When parents use physical punishment, children are more likely to use violent acts to settle their conflicts with others.

Using Consequences as a Form of Discipline

Letting children experience the consequences of their decisions is an "unperturbed" way to discipline young people. Children learn from their experiences, just like adults. We call it learning the "hard way." The child learns that every act has a consequence for which he is responsible. Parents can declare that the consequence of not coming to the dinner table in time to eat is that the child does not eat his dinner that evening. Hunger is a natural consequence of not eating. If the child complains, mother can say, "I'm sorry you feel hungry now. It's too bad, but you'll have to wait for breakfast." The child who experiences the unpleasant consequences of his behavior will be less likely to act that way again.

CONCLUSION

It is therefore concluded that although there is evidence that punitive parents produce more aggressive children than less punitive parents, all parents should not give up punishments for their children but rather select the best effective discipline methods or as punishment in teaching children how they should behave.  The guidance that works best is fair, should be consistent, sensitive, and last but not the least loving.