Are parents still using spanking to manage their child's behavior?

Spanking used to be an acceptable form of discipline in the past. Many parents believed to spare the rod was to spoil the child. There are still some parents who advocate for spanking to manage behavior.

As more informed parents know spanking or using harsh punishment measures isn't appropriate or effective.  Parents who use harsh physical discipline are teaching their child to cooperate by fear.  These disciplinarians are also teaching their child to use aggression to get what they want.  Least of all the focus of this kind of discipline is more on what the child did wrong verses teaching your child what you want them to do that's right!

An article in the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Physical Punishment and Mental Disorders: Results From a Nationally Representative US Sample reports on a recent study goes a step further.  This study demonstrates that using physical punishment as discipline can lead to life long mental health issues. A conclusion from this study states, Harsh physical punishment was associated with increased odds of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, alcohol and drug abuse/dependence.

For parents who still believe that spanking their child is effective and harmless take a look at the study .

If you would like help learning healthier, more effective forms of discipline consider participating in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) with your child.  Call today for an introduction to PCIT.