Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child
We’ve all heard someone say, “I got spanked as a kid, and I turned out okay (usually accompanied with a cringy smile).” Spanking is defined as, “slapping with one’s open hand or a flat object, especially on the buttocks (great word) as a punishment." I think parents who spank their kids run to the defense of spanking in one of two ways: 1. When they're too young to listen to reason, spanking's all that works. 2. Other forms of discipline are weak compared to spanking. The first one is perhaps the most difficult discussion. If a child is too young to listen to reason, spanking will correct negative behavior but also instill fear at a young age. Sure, the child is no longer crying, but only because they’re afraid. Studies have shown that kids who grow up spanked tend towards aggression and see hitting as a way of resolving conflict. Studies have suggested benefits to conditional spanking from ages 2 to 6, where two open-handed swats to the buttocks (couldn...