Why Doctors Are Telling Us Not to Smack Our Kids

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Why doctors are telling us not to smack our children

by Cassie W hite Whether parents should use smacking as a form of discipline is a highly controversial and emotional debate. But why are doctors calling for physical punishment to be made illegal?

Published 29/08/2013

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W hether it w as a slap on the hand or w hack across the bottom, many of us w ere smacked by our parents w hen w e w ere kids.

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In fact, smacking is a form of discipline many of us still use, w ith figures show ing 69 per cent of Australian parents still smack their kids today.

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But the debate about w hether physical punishment is a safe and effective form of discipline recently made headlines w hen the body representing children's doctors – the paediatric division of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) – called for physical punishment to be made illegal in Australia.

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According to RACP, physical punishment (or corporal punishment) is the use of physical force to help control a child's behaviour. Usually it involves smacking a child w ith your hand or an implement, such as a w ooden spoon or belt, although it can include kicking, biting or shaking.

This form of discipline has been outlaw ed in 33 countries, including New Zealand, and evidence show s these countries now identify children at risk of abuse earlier, and have very low rates of child mortality associated w ith abuse.

The RACP argues physical punishment – including smacking – is outdated, and that children's human rights are being violated as they're the only group not protected from physical violence under current law s.

It's calling for parents to be supported to use "more effective, non-violent methods of discipline" instead.

Long-term effects Associate Professor Susan Moloney, president of the Paediatrics and Child Health Division at the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) and associate professor at Griffith University, says physical punishment doesn't have to cross the line into abuse for children to suffer long-term mental and behavioural issues.

"There is no safe threshold on the number of times or how hard you can smack your child," she says.

"W hat one parent calls a smack may be different to someone else's definition of a smack. Children should not be subject to any physical punishment."

Studies show s physical punishment has a range of health and social consequences and is not an effective form of discipline. Some of the specific findings include: Experience of physical punishments – such as slapping or hitting – in childhood is associated w ith depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse/dependence, and personality disorders later in life.

Experience of physical punishments in childhood is associated w ith a higher incidence of health conditions in adulthood, including cardiovascular disease, obesity and arthritis.

Children w ho are spanked frequently at age three are more likely to be aggressive at age five.

Physical punishment teaches kids to avoid the 'bad behaviour' in front of adults, rather than stop the behaviour completely.

There is no evidence that physical punishment improves child development and health.

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Child and educational psychologist, Andrew Greenfield, says smacking only tells children it is okay to hit other people.

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"Right then and there, it teaches kids that physical violence is the w ay to solve their problems," he says.

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"It might have short-term gains for parents, but it doesn't actually teach them anything and that's the w hole point.

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"Ultimately, if you're smacking a child, you're doing it for the child to develop a fear, and trying to get anything out of your child through fear is never going to w ork."

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But he says effective discipline is more than simply not smacking your child.

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"Even if you don't smack, but shout and scream, it's certainly not going to be effective, either."

Losing control Currently, Australian law says that parents can use "reasonable force" to discipline a child, but NSW is the only state that clarifies w hat that actually means.

The RACP argues "reasonable force" can escalate into full-blow n abuse w hen angry parents lose control.

Moloney says most infant homicides are a result of physical punishment gone w rong.

"The defence that parents [w ho accidentally kill their children] use, is that they w ere just trying to discipline them," she says.

A review of 165 child homicides in New South Wales betw een 1992 and 2005 found that 59 w ere related to child abuse. The authors argued the rate of child homicide in NSW w as much higher than in countries w here physical punishment had been banned. They concluded "more lives could be saved by measures that reduce the incidence of child abuse, including the prohibition of corporal punishment of children".

Changing the law isn't enough Professor Matt Sanders, clinical psychologist and director of the University of Queensland's Parenting and Family Support Centre agrees that physical discipline is never effective.

But he says it's "irresponsible" to introduce anti-smacking legislation, unless parents are given the information and support to implement effective alternatives.

"We've learned that w hen parents learn effective alternatives, they simply stop hitting their kids," Sanders says.

"But just having an information repository on a w ebsite w here you've got lots of information people can dow nload, doesn't mean parents are doing so," he says.

How ever, Greenfield says there's no one-size-fits-all method to discipline and how parents go about it depends on their ow n patience threshold, parenting style and expectations.

But experts agree there are some basics that can help w hen it comes to disciplining children. These include: Be consistent and follow through w ith consequences.

Distract children w ith interesting and fun activities – especially w hile you're shopping or at other times kids can play up.

Point out w hen your child is doing the right thing, not just the w rong.

Ignore children w hen they are misbehaving to get a reaction.

Pick your battles; sometimes you just have to let things go.

W hen you feel out of control, put your child somew here safe and take time out.

The RACP recommends the follow ing resources for positive discipline strategies.

How to manage your child's behaviour w ithout smacking – PDF from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians Choose to hug: information and suggestions for parents – PDF from the New Zealand Office of the Children's Commissioner Alternatives to smacking – from NAPCAN (National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Strategies w ith Kids – Information for Parents (SKIP) – NZ organisation that supports positive parenting approaches.

Children are unbeatable: seven very good reasons not to hit children – PDF from the N Z Office of the Children's Commissioner and UNICEF NZ.

More info Raising children netw ork The Incredible Years Modern dilemmas: the smack - ABC Radio National Life Matters Anti-smacking law s - ABC Radio National Life Matters Triple P Positive Parenting Program

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Pauline :

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Add your comment 29 Aug 2013 1:24:18pm

I am pleased to see this report and totally agree that if it is completely morally w rong to use violence and hit anyone, including and especially children. I have 2 children and after being disciplined w ith a range of smacks and hits (including a riding crop) as a child, I vow ed that I w ould never ever hit my children. I kept that vow and my tw o children have now grow n up and are fine. converted by Web2PDFConvert.com