Should You Be Allowed to Spank Your Children Without Consequences?

Children go through different growth stages from birth before they reach adult age. From birth to around the age of eighteen, children are under the care and control of their parents. Hence, parents and guardians who bring up children have a responsibility of ensuring that kids grow up in the right way (LeCuyer et al., 2011, p. 44). For instance, parents ensure that children access quality education, food, clothing, and other necessities. In addition, there is need to ensure that children have the right behavior since they will become adults one day. Instilling discipline and caring about the behavior as well as attitudes children have helps in shaping them to become law-abiding citizens and individuals that interact with other people (Vittrup & Holden, 2010, p. 54). However, the approach of disciplining children should be philanthropic in that parents do not hot their kids but provide them with guidance on how they can lead their lives. Spanking children has both negative and positive consequences making it necessary for guardians and parents to take consideration of a few factors. The government also has a different approach and perception towards spanking children meaning that anyone found beating their kids might have to face the law. Parents should not be allowed to spank their children without since consequences as it teaches kids violence is the only solution to solve issues and causes a traumatic experience for them.

Parents should be allowed to spank their children without consequences since kids are the responsibility of guardians and have a duty to mold the young people into adults (LeCuyer et al., 2011, p. 23). Spanking is effective since parents only do it whenever the children have made a major mistake. It also helps in shaping the mind of a child that every action they do results in a positive or negative reaction. It also helps in aligning their behavior to obey rules and regulations that exist in the society. Therefore, children grow up knowing that boundaries set need respect otherwise punishments follow those who do not uphold such rules and observations. Phelan (2010, p. 36) argues that spanking does not damage children either in the short-term or the long-term since it only takes place when the kids are young, and it is easier to shape their character and give instructions. In addition, parents or guardians get the blame from the society if they fail to bring up children who turn out to be great citizens who can add value to the nation. One of the important considerations that parents should have is avoiding hitting their children in the heat of an angry moment (Vittrup & Holden, 2010, p19). This is because it might have a negative result like damaging a child or even causing an injury.

On the other hand, Lickona (2012, p. 54) argues that parents should not be allowed to spank their children without consequences because it is ineffective. For instance, children learn that violence is the only solution when dealing with both technical and easy situations. A child who parents spank is most likely to have violent reactions when dealing with their peers and causes disturbances among the friends (Cline & Fay, 2014 p. 38). Further, a child will hit back when a parent disciplines them through spanking making it impossible for a parent to make a child understand that only guardians can hit their kids. Older adults whose parents use the spanking approach as a form of punishment have a higher probability of engaging in juvenile criminal activities or becoming violent in their adult lives. Vittrup & Holden (2010, p. 27) argue that such children become accustomed to war and violence from a young age making it hard for them to understand other methods of dealing with diplomatically solving issues.

Spanking should not be allowed since parents illustrate to children that they hold power and authority over their lives (Cline & Fay, 2014 p.11). It teaches children that people or anyone in a superior position have a right to mistreat them in different ways. The relationship between a parent and their children goes through a challenging process, as each perceives the other negatively. Children are unable to approach their parents when going through issues in their lives and choose to get advice from their peers, which might result in poor choices in life (MacKenzie, et al., 2013 p. 90). Children also lose confidence in their parents, as they may not understand that their parents spank them with the intention of benefitting them. Teaching children logic and perceiving things from the perspective of a parent is important as it helps in practical decision-making and analysis of situations before taking a step. Children become better in discussing issues and finding solutions using communication and diplomatic ways of getting into the bottom line. Parents may take advantage of their ability to spank their children and turn their anger, frustrations, and failures on children as a way to get relief. Spanking does guarantee parents will have morally upright children.

References

Lickona, T. (2012). Raising good children: From birth through the teenage years. Bantam.

Cline, F., & Fay, J. (2014). Parenting with love and logic: Teaching children responsibility. Tyndale House.

MacKenzie, M. J., Nicklas, E., Waldfogel, J., & Brooks-Gunn, J. (2013). Spanking and child development across the first decade of life. Pediatrics, 132(5), e1118-e1125.

Vittrup, B., & Holden, G. W. (2010). Children's assessments of corporal punishment and other disciplinary practices: The role of age, race, SES, and exposure to spanking. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 31(3), 211-220.

LeCuyer, E. A., Christensen, J. J., Kearney, M. H., & Kitzman, H. J. (2011). African American mothers' self-described discipline strategies with young children. Issues in comprehensive pediatric nursing, 34(3), 144-162.

Phelan, T. W. (2010). 1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 212. ParentMagic, Inc..