Is corporal punishment good for children?
It is a debate that has been around for as long as hitting children has been around - does spanking help to teach them right from wrong, or does it have negative consequences on their development? In this blog post, I will take a look at what the latest research on the effects of hitting children points to, and provide you with some guidance on how to discipline your child without resorting to physical punishment along with what a child needs to thrive.
The research on the effects of hitting children is unequivocal - it is harmful to their physical and mental health. Hitting a child can cause them to develop chronic problems such as depression, anxiety, and aggression. It can also damage their self-esteem and lead to distorted views of themselves and others.
To discipline your child without hitting them, you need to be consistent and use positive reinforcement. When your child does something good, praise them and reward them. This will help them to develop a sense of self-worth and learn that good behaviour is rewarded. If your child displays bad behaviour, calmly tell them what they did wrong and explain how they can fix it. Be sure to provide positive feedback when they follow your instructions.
It is important to remember that every child is different, so what works for one may not work for another. Try different methods until you find one that works best for you and your child. The most important thing is to be patient, consistent, and loving. Hitting children never solves anything other than initially alleviating the parent's frustration.
So, what are the consequences of physically punishing a child:
- hitting children is harmful to their physical and mental health
- hitting a child can cause them to develop chronic problems such as depression, anxiety, and aggression
- hitting a child can damage their self-esteem and lead to distorted views of themselves and others
The most obvious disadvantage to hitting children is that it is harmful to their physical health because it can cause bruises or broken bones. In addition to the physical impact, hitting a child can damage their mental health by causing them to be depressed or anxious about being hit again in future situations where they might need discipline. The most important thing when disciplining a child without hitting them is patience, consistency, and love. This is the most effective way of teaching them right from wrong without causing any further damage to their physical or mental health.
Furthermore, hitting a child can teach them that violence is an acceptable way to deal with anger or frustration. Regular physical punishment can also lead to a cycle of abuse where the child becomes an abuser when they reach adulthood.
Hitting children never solves anything other than initially alleviating the adult's frustration; it just creates more problems in future situations where discipline is needed because hitting children does not teach them how to behave it only creates fear and resentment. The most important thing is to be patient, consistent, and loving when disciplining a child without hitting them. This way it will help them develop into healthy adults who can constructively handle frustration.
Alternatives to hitting children include positive reinforcement, explaining what they did wrong and how they can fix it, using patience until you find what works best for you and your child - these are all more effective than hitting any child because hitting them only serves as a temporary fix while being detrimental over time (developing chronic problems).
Fear on the developing brain:
Fear is a natural response to perceived danger and a normal response to danger in Human development. However, for children, fear can be particularly destructive. Fear can interfere with the development of self-esteem and mental health. The first step in developing healthy self-esteem is feeling safe in your environment. Children who grow up fearing for their safety or the safety of those they love are more likely to develop anxiety disorders or depression later in life. When a child feels unsafe, he or she will often withdraw from social interactions and isolate themselves from others. This can lead to low self-esteem and feelings of loneliness and isolation.
For children to feel safe, they need to feel supported by their caregivers. When children experience consistent and responsive caregiving, they are more likely to develop a sense of trust in the world. This positive relationship with caregivers helps children feel safe enough to explore their environment and learn new things. When children are constantly bombarded with fear-inducing stimuli, it becomes difficult for them to focus on anything else. Their attention is constantly drawn back to the fear, preventing them from learning and developing normally. If you are concerned about your child’s development, be sure to seek help from a professional. A therapist can provide guidance and support as your child works through their fears. With time and patience, your child can learn how to cope with their fears in a healthy way.
So, what does a child need to be able to thrive?
When it comes to child development, there are a few key things that children need to form a balanced sense of self and to thrive emotionally, and in the way they think about their selves and others. The first is positive self-esteem. Children need to feel good about themselves and be able to view their strengths and weaknesses healthily. They also need some level of autonomy, or independence, to feel like they're in control of their lives. In addition, children need supportive relationships with adults and peers who care about them and can help them navigate the challenges of growing up. If they have these things, they're more likely to grow into emotionally healthy adults themselves.
It's important to keep these things in mind when caring for children. We can help them develop self-esteem by praising their accomplishments and supporting their efforts, even when they don't succeed. We can also give them opportunities to be independent, such as letting them choose what they want to wear or eat and helping them navigate relationships with peers and adults. By providing a supportive environment, we can help our children build a strong foundation for emotional health that will last throughout their lives.
While there's no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of what children need for healthy development, these are some of the key things to keep in mind. So, if you're a parent, grandparent, teacher, or another caregiver, do your best to provide as many of these things as possible for the children in your life. They'll thank you for it later!
Some additional resources on this topic:
Peacefull Parent, happy kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting. by Dr. Laura Markham
Siegel, D. J. (1999). The developing mind: Toward a neurobiology of interpersonal experience. New York, NY: Guilford Press. [Google Scholar]
Siegel, D. J. (2012). The developing mind: How relationships and the brain interact to shape who we are (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press. [Google Scholar]
Siegel, D. J. (2013). Brainstorm: The power and purpose of the teenage brain. New York, NY: Penguin Putnam. [Google Scholar]
‘The foundations of lifelong health are Built in early childhood’, NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COUNCIL ON THE DEVELOPING CHILD. Centre on the developing child – Harvard University. Available at:
https://developingchild.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Foundations-of-Lifelong-Health.pdf
Accessed on: 20/02/2022
