The spanking debate just got ratcheted up another notch.
New Canadian research suggests that spanking may end up causing, rather than preventing, antisocial behaviours. The report, published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, contradicts British politicians recent arguments that anti-smacking laws contribute to lax parenting and social chaos such as last summers London riots.
Canadian researchers analyzed two decades of studies on the long-term effects of physical punishment in children. They found no upside to spanking. Instead, they concluded that physical punishment puts children at risk for depression, anxiety, substance abuse and aggressive behaviour later in life.
We find children who are physically punished get more aggressive over time and those who are not physically punished get less aggressive over time, lead author Joan Durrant, a clinical psychologist at the University of Manitoba, told Time.com.
Nevertheless, spanking is sanctioned in Section 43 of Canadas Criminal Code, as long as its physical punishment of a trifling nature done by a parent to a child aged 2 to 12.
As The Globe and Mail reported earlier, many Canadians are convinced that kids may benefit from a good smack on the rear.
The top-rated comment to The Globe article was written by a father by the name of ShakeTheTree, who explained that his 3-year-old with a very stubborn streak responds to spanking when all else fails. I never spank in anger, he wrote. I always explain ahead of time that he needs to listen to me for his safety and if he doesn't, he'll be spanked.
Others are appalled that Canadian law allows parents to strike children. The legality of hitting your children empowers those who might take it too far, commented thelionroars.
Meanwhile, a committee to remove Section 43 is underway at Repeal43.org. Committee member Corinne Robertshaw noted in an e-mail to The Globe and Mail that trifling hits between adults are rarely charged and we don't need a special defence to prevent [charges] when the victim is a child. She defined discipline as teaching through example and respect, whereas spanking is assault. Lets stop equating the two.
But until every last parent is on side, there will always be adults who remember being spanked as kids, and say they turned out fine.
Poster Comment:
From among comments:
common55 I have yet to spank my 4 year old son once. Taking away a favorite toy for 3 sleeps works just fine. 3 sleeps when you are 4 is a long time, and when you get the toy back you remember why you lost it for so long.
Reem2010 To spank or not to spank, that is the question. The problem is with the father who takes out his anger on the child because he is having a bad day at work, or the mother who is so stressed out that she cannot take any more whinning from a 4 yearl old. When you justify spanking because it serves YOU, then definitely, spanking is a no, no. So, where do we go from here? to completely criminalize spanking would mean that parents will no longer have ANY authority over their kids. Some kids are very defiant and stubborn. Which means a 7-year-old throwing eggs at the neighbors car (true story!) or the 3 year-old drawing with ink on the sofa might actually try this behaviour again. I remember being spanked ONCE in my life, but I promise you that I learned THEN and THERE what could happen if I crossed the line. That fear of authority had an influence on me and made me think twice before getting into anything stupid.
j mitchman I spanked my 3 yr old last week for drawing with ink on the sofa, after repeated attempts to stop the writing on the walls and on almsot everything else. A little smack on the bottom does make the relization that that type of behavior is unacceptable. It hurt me more than them to do it but it beats having it happen while visiting someone elses house and the embarassment that comes from undisciplined children. No such thing as bad kids just bad parents
Tatarewicz1 To prevent such damage to furniture, etc., would be worthwhile to make sure there are several alternative objects like blackboards, spheres and so on on which the child can express itself, repeatedly coaching the child to restrict drawings and emphasizing inappropriate markings will require costly cleanings/repairs, thus limiting the amount of money available for food, favorite treats, etc.
starla8383 I can't imagine what kind of warped mind thinks that having clean furniture is more important than the security and well-being of a child. You left ink within arm's reach of the child - you're to blame for the result. Hitting the child for your mistake is nothing short of monstrous.
mr_scary I rarely spank anymore. My two boys have discovered that when I spank I really mean it. After a few savage blows they understand what's what. They respect me more. And I always make sure we have a heartfelt talk afterwards. Less bad times then makes for more good times. All I usually end up doing these days is mentioning they will get spanked if they continue. One thing is for sure, I never spank out of anger. I have developed a ceremony and they know it well enough.