Corporal Punishment

The role of a parent is multifaceted. Tasked with taking offspring from infancy to functional independence, a care provider faces an evolving developmental landscape with new challenges during each successive stage. All parents share the same core responsibility of acting as a teacher to their children. As the child gains in motor skills and coordination,…

To argue hitting a child in any context seems absurd. Yet, most Americans today still spank their children. Reports suggest up to 70% today (Sege, Siegal). These American parents think it is an effective and necessary punishment for their child’s growth. But, because spanking is linked to aggression, increased defiance, and lower cognitive development in…