Spanking should be used as a Disciplinary Measure

Spanking should be used as a Disciplinary Measure

Spanking is an act of disciplining a child for wrong doing by slapping or striking their buttocks with an aim of causing pain that is temporary. To ensure that spanking is not abused, does not harm children or make the child develop a negative attitude, the following procedure is recommended for parents. First, the parent should explain to the child how or why they have messed and give better alternative actions they could have made. Second, inform the child that the consequence of their actions is spanking and let them remain in position. Third, lightly spank the child on the buttocks with a hand, not with a tool, that is, remove objects such as rings. Fourth, reassure the child that you do it because you love them. Lastly, make the spanking a learning experience and as a form of love to the child as you want them to have good morals and be good people when they grow up. For spanking to be effective in disciplining a child, it has to be done within specific restrictions.

Spanking should be used as a form of discipline for children aged two years and above. At the age two years and above, they have started learning and can easily understand the mistake they have done, the reason for the discipline and the alternatives they could have made. Spanking should not be severe to an extent that it physically harms the child. That is not the aim of spanking. Spanking is a form of discipline that should help children develop good morals and learn how to cope in diverse environments. It is should be light hence cause temporary pain that will make the child rectify. Parents should use a bare hand when spanking a child. They should first remove objects such rings that can injure a child (Arnall, Judy & Debbie 59).

Disciplining through spanking has several merits in enhancing the development of a child’s good morals. The effect of spanking is immediate in restraining a child from making bad decisions and doing dangerous acts such as crossing a busy road without the guidance of a parent, a guardian or any elderly person who can guide them. It makes the child realize immediately that they have messed and will register it in their mind so that they do not repeat that mistake in the future. Spanking does not make a child guilt to an extent of developing a negative attitude and inferiority . Instead, it makes the child understand that their parents love them hence the reason for disciplining them through spanking. Additionally, it does not cause any physical harm that can make the child think otherwise. To emphasize, spanking has been a traditional practice that has been used for a long time and has proved to be efficient and effective in disciplining a child. Therefore, abandoning this tradition is not rational as it does not cause any harm when it is used as required (Giles-Sims, Jean & Charles 199).

It is true that when something is not rightly used, it creates a bad impact. In the same manner, when spanking is wrongly used it creates a bad picture and implication. When spanking is wrongly used does not mean that spanking itself is bad. Any good thing, whereby spanking is inclusive can be abused. For example when it is abused particularly when it causes physical injuries such as wounds, it can lead to psychological torture, guilt, negative attitude and make the child violent. Therefore, what is needed is parents to learn how to discipline their children in love through spanking (Arnall, Judy & Debbie 72).

Not using spanking to discipline children is not a splendid idea based on the fact that it brings positive effects, leads to good moral development through avoidance of bad or forbidden acts. People argue that there are modern methods that have been discovered and can replace spanking. To me, the methods should be used in complementary so as to easily and quickly create the intended effect in disciplining. Otherwise, all the benefits associated with correct spanking will be lost.  Therefore, spanking should be used as a measure of disciplining children and should be rightly used as explained. In conclusion, spanking should be used as an enhancer of learning good morals.

 

 

Work Cited

Arnall, Judy, and Debbie Elicksen. Discipline Without Distress: 135 Tools for Raising Caring, Responsible Children Without Time-Out, Spanking, Punishment, or Bribery. Calgary, Alberta: Professional Parenting Canada, 2008. Print.

Dietz, Tracy L. “Disciplining children: characteristics associated with the use of corporal punishment.” Child Abuse & Neglect 24.12 (2000): 1529-1542.

Giles-Sims, Jean, and Charles Lockhart. “Culturally shaped patterns of disciplining children.” Journal of Family Issues 26.2 (2005): 196-218.