Essay Sample on Spanking Children

Spanking is the act of using physical force to slap someone’s buttock, that is usually performed out of frustration. Many adults still use this form of punishment and they should not be able to do so. Spanking, a form of corporal punishment, has been around since the 18th century and possibly even before (Wickmen). This is a serious issue that can lead to more problems than just an upset child. Some people may believe that if a child is not spanked they will grow up being a menace. Without punishment, yes, a child may grow up being a terror, but there are other methods to go about disciplining children. Children who are spanked are more susceptible to developing mental and emotional problems. Someone could argue that spanking brings about immediate compliance, but the long term effects of spanking are not worth the consequence of scarred children. 

Those who agree with spanking believe that children being spanked has no direct effect on their mental and emotional health, which is a false statement.  Children who are spanked are indeed more likely to develop mental and emotional problems.  Spanked children wince as someone raises their hand towards them. There is a scare factor ingrained into children's minds, that the average hug or smile can look like a threat. Spanked children are also more likely to be antisocial and “Preschool and school age children — and even adults — [who have been] spanked are more likely to develop anxiety and depression disorders or have more difficulties engaging.” There is no benefit to society if kids are antisocial or depressed.  When an adult spanks them, the child is going to believe they deserve to be treated in that sense. They will start to have low self-esteem and have a negative image of themselves. Not only will they be scared, but they can also become stressed. According to Kendra Nenia, child development and family center teacher, the child will become stressed due to the constant worry of returning home to an abusive household. This stress can also cause a lower IQ of students.

Part of the emotional health affected is increased feelings of aggression. Children who are spanked can be quiet and sit in the corner, but they can also become a bully. Children will develop the belief that if they are beat, then everyone should be. When aggression is modeled at home, some kids tend to take out their aggression on kids their own age who seem vulnerable to them.  One could argue that kids don’t learn aggression and it is natural, but bullying is learned. Kids growing up in a household with no corporal punishment are not going to be bullies, because they simply will not know how to. Children who do grow up in households were there is corporal punishment are in reality bullied at home and are taught those actions. Similar to how spanking leads to feelings of depression and anxiety, so can the act of bullying. 

Many people will argue that a child who is not spanked is going to be a rule breaker, but that is not quite true. It is actually the children that are spanked, that will be more aggressive and rule breakers (new york times). The goal of raising children is to raise kind humans, who follow the rules of our society. The kids who are more likely to do so are the ones not spanked. Supporters of spanking could argue that children learn their lesson when they are spanked, but the only lesson they are learning is not to do that action around the person who spanks them. They are not learning why the action is bad or why they should avoid doing it.  Parents should never resort to spanking when there are plenty of other methods of disciplining children. 

There are some forms of discipline that require action and some may even be verbal. One method that many parents use is time outs. A time out is a disciplinary method that allows for a child to sit away from others and think about what they have done wrong. When a child is able to sit and think about why they are being punished, they can realize what was wrong with their action and why it is punishable. Another method that shows children their wrongdoings is taking away privileges. If the child is younger and didn’t pick up their toys no matter how many times they were asked too, the parent can take away their tv or ipad privileges. This technique can even work for high school students. If the teen is not listening, the parent can make their curfew early, ground them, take away their phone, or anything that can teach them their behavior will not be tolerated.  To make this technique more efficient, the parent can allow the child to get the privilege back the next day by doing positive behaviors. By complementing the child's positive behavior, the child can learn what is right versus what is wrong. If the child picks up the toy and is shown appreciation, they will start doing so more often. 

Methods that are the most controversial forms of discipline are talking to the child. Without discussing the problem, they will never be able to fully understand what they did wrong. Children do not know all of the things in life that are wrong, nor all that are right. A child who leaves the door open might not understand what is so wrong about it. They need to be told what the consequences of their action could lead to. Modeling the action for the child could work as well. If parents do not want their child to swear, then they need to be aware of the language they use around their child. With kids, it is monkey see, monkey do. Children will mimic actions they see other people performing. If they witness an adult jaywalking, they will think that it is okay to walk in the middle of the road.

Although the acceptance of corporal punishment has seen a decline in America, according to Smith, two thirds of Americans still approve of parents spanking their children. The act of using physical force, spanking, on a child is not ok, and never will be. Some adults may argue that they were spanked and they turned out just fine, but that is not true of most people whom were spanked. Spanking can lead to mental and emotional problems along with lower IQs. There are many alternatives to spanking, such as time outs, discussing the problem, and teaching young children right from wrong. The act of spanking should never be resorted to and leads to more than just an anxious child. “Children who were physically punished were more likely to endorse hitting as a means of resolving their conflicts with peers and siblings. Parents who had experienced frequent physical punishment during their childhood were more likely to believe it was acceptable, and they frequently spanked their children. Their children, in turn, often believed spanking was an appropriate disciplinary method” (Smith). When children grow up thinking spanking is the only way to discipline or solve problems, the cycle will never stop.  Children who are not spanked may be obnoxious, but are far better off than children who are disciplined with force. Parents need to lower their hands and put more effort towards ensuring the health and safety of their children.