On Spanking Children

As shown in a recent study, spanking really doesn't help and can actually cause harm. There are much more effective ways to improve a child's behavior.

Some people say "I got spanked/hit when I was a kid, and I turned out just fine".

My response (not always popular) is that if you now find that your only response to your child's misbehavior is spanking and hitting, I would argue that you really didn't "turn out fine"!

Teaching children how to manage their anger, how to respond to situations that didn't turn out as they expected, how to respond when other people disappoint them are all very important parts of parenting. When children are spanked for their behavior, they mostly learn to hit when they don't like something. They don't (in almost all the literature for the last several decades) learn to change their behavior.

Positive reinforcement of good behavior, setting limits and giving consequences such as time-out or taking away toys or privileges are healthy forms of discipline that encourage appropriate behavior for the long term.

If you are having trouble with your child's behavior, I can evaluate them and we can come up with a plan to help change the behaviors so you and your family will all be happier and healthier!