“Spanking children can cause long-term developmental damage and may even lower a child’s IQ.”
Carol | February 7, 2012
Spanking kids can cause long-term harm-Canada study
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/07/canada-spanking-idUSL2E8D1F1C20120207
“Spanking children can cause long-term developmental damage and may even lower a child’s IQ…”
“‘What people have realized is that physical punishment doesn’t only predict aggression consistently, it also predicts internalizing kinds of difficulties, like depression and substance use.’”
“‘There are no studies that show any long term positive outcomes from physical punishment.’”
Spanking should be illegal, report says
http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Spanking+should+illegal+report+says/6111962/story.html#ixzz1liueZa8M
“Researchers found that families that reduced their use of physical punishment saw a decline in aggression and anti-social behaviour in their children.”
“Images of children’s brains gathered in another study suggested that physical punishment may change areas in the brain connected to performance on IQ tests and could increase a child’s vulnerability to drug and alcohol dependence.”
“A 2000 Canadian study found children who were spanked were seven times more likely to be assaulted by their parents.”
I read some typical comments today regarding this issue:
“I was spanked, and I turned out okay.”
Is it possible that you would have been okay without that handful of spankings? Could it be that the spankings just stand out in your memory because they were so traumatic? Didn’t your parents give you any positive parenting that could explain why you are “okay”? Do those spankings really deserve all the credit they get? Just because you think spanking did you no harm does not mean you should have been subjected to it. Quoting Gordon H. Clark, “Children sometimes survive diphtheria or infantile paralysis but we do not try to give it to them.” “And because I am happy, and dance and sing. They think they have done me no injury…” William Blake
“I spank my children, but only a few times!”
If spanking is so great, then why only do it a few times? Is there something wrong with spanking that makes it acceptable to only spank a few times?
“You should spank so your child doesn’t run into the street.”
Do parents really rely on a past spanking to protect their children from danger? Are you that confident in a previous spanking that you would risk your child’s life?
“There is a difference between spanking and abuse.”
Tell that to a woman who has been hit by her husband. He just hit her a few times – but that’s not abuse? Another ridiculous line is when people insist that spanking is not beating. Duh.
“Spanking is needed because it gets the children’s attention. Just a quick bam gets their attention.”
Seriously. You have that poor of a relationship that you need to hit your children before they listen? Sounds like hitting in anger – the typical taboo of Spanking 101… Pick up the child. Remove him from the situation. And problem solve. Be the grown-up.
I learned today that Canadians, even news anchors, don’t even know the existing law in Canada about spanking.