A recent study shows that children whose parents use spanking as a discipline make them possible future victims of physical abuse.
All parents have different ways of how disciplining their children. Disciplining a child is one of the most challenging things to do at the early stage of parenting.
It is because children growing up requires more attention as their demands increase. There will be times when kids could unintentionally push their parents’ patience.
Unfortunately, some parents use physical punishment to discipline their children without knowing its possible consequences. One of the physical punishments that some parents usually do is spanking. However, most parents don’t know that physical abuse is less likely to happen once they stop spanking their kids.
In this article, you’ll read:
- Experts Relate Spanking Children to Later Physical Abuse
- Why You Should Stop Spanking Your Children
- Top 4 Consequences of Hurtful Discipline on Kids
Experts Relate Spanking Children to Later Physical Abuse
Many parents across the globe use spanking as a way to deter their child’s behaviour. Unfortunately, research says that children whose parents use spanking to deter kids are most likely to become victims of physical abuse.
The University of Michigan researchers analyse the connection between spanking and physical abuse among low- and middle-income countries. Aside from that, they also aim to examine how physical abuse could be reduced by eliminating spanking.
Disciplining Kids with Spanking
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Spanking is the act of hitting someone with a hand. Meanwhile, researchers of the study defined spanking as an open-hand hit on the child behind. It is done without using objects such as a belt or stick.
A situation becomes physically abusive when the parents beat up the child or strike the head of the face. Concerning this, parents must know the consequences of physical punishment on children—both legal and to kids, mentally.
International law and cultures vary regarding what type of physical punishment parents can inflict on their kids. Commonly, law enforcement would not intervene in spanking cases. However, they tend to take action in physical abuse cases where the child is at higher risk of injury.
Why You Should Stop Spanking Your Children
Eliminating spanking possibly prevents future cases of physical abuse. Through the UNICEF Multiple Indicator Survey, researchers were able to use nationally representative data from children. The primary participants are about 156,000 children, ages 1 to 4.
The study discovered that spanking is associated with higher odds of physical abuse. About 32 in every 100 children experience spanking from their parents. In addition to this, reports say that 7 of the 32 children experience physical abuse.
Most of the findings from the study show that stopping spanking altogether results in lessening children’s exposure to physical abuse. In truth, the probability decreased by 14% compared between kids who experienced spanking and those who did not.
Several organisations call for eliminating all forms of violence against children. In addition, the result of the study supports child welfare advocates to continue discouraging parents and caregivers from using spanking. It is because preventing the use of spanking on children could also help in reducing physical abuse.
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Top 4 Consequences of Hurtful Discipline on Kids
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Undoubtedly, disciplining a child is one of the most challenging and complex parts of parenting. Disciplining a child requires a lot of patience and attention.
For some parents, beating their kids is one method to discipline them; they do it to put fear in them. Authoritarian parents use this kind of action. They would instead force their children to take up certain habits than train them.
Unfortunately, this kind of method is not effective as they thought it could be. Here are various effects of physical punishment on children:
Beating Breeds Aggression
Children notice and are most likely to emulate the behaviour of people around them. Remember that beating your children gives them the idea that it is okay to beat others too.
Image from iStock
It Could Affect Your Child’s Self Image
Aside from the physical harm that comes with beating, physical punishment could also be emotionally damaging to your child. A child experiencing beating can develop a bad image of himself.
Children Can Become Rebellious
For parents, beating is a form of disciplining their children. However, it could only be effective initially until the child gets used to it. The next thing that will happen is that the child will move on and even go against you.
They Will Remember the Pain
It is easy for children to remember that they were beaten. Later, you might feel and notice that your children are starting to detach themselves from you.
Parents need to remember that there are numerous ways to discipline a child without having to hit, beat, or spank them.
This article has been republished with the permission of theAsianparent Singapore.
