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How To Discipline Your Child - Spanking Vs Other Methods

It can be hard to determine what is a rational discipline plan for a child ...

There's a good chance you were spanked as a child.

Does that make it a good discipline method? Maybe - but probably not.

It can be hard to determine what is a rational discipline plan for a child. Do you swat or spank to discipline your child?

If so - or if you're thinking about trying it - let's take a look.

"Spare The Rod..."

Some people believe because the Bible says "spare the rod, spoil the child" that it endorses hitting their child with a "rod" or stick as a method of discipline. The trouble is, those who believe that are forgetting to take the historical background into consideration.

At the time, there were many shepherds, and they used a rod, or stick, as a method of correction...But not to hit the sheep! It was used to gently guide the sheep to where they should be going. In this sense, the "rod" is the gentle method used to teach the young child where to go, and if you don't use the rod of correction - not a stick to hurt the child, but a way to guide - then the child could be spoiled. Should you use spanking to discipline your child or another method? Let's continue our look at the practice.

Benefits Of Spanking?

But are there benefits to swatting or spanking to disciplining your child? Some experts believe it doesn't hurt, much. But many more child development experts believe that isn't true.

Sure, the pain on the backside may not last long, but there are other pains that can last much longer. And for some children, spanking seems a good way to get their attention - maybe that is so, but there are always other methods that should be tried first.

The effects of spanking can be detrimental. First of all, the relationship between parent and child can be damaged if the child is deliberately hurt by the parent. Also, it teaches the child that problems are solved by hitting - which is probably not the message we intend to teach our children. Also, we lose the opportunity to truly discipline - teach - our children.

Timeout More Effective

There are many other methods more effective than swatting or spanking to discipline your child. One of these is to use a "timeout." With a timeout, the child is put in a certain place - their bedroom, or a chair, anywhere without fun stuff to do - for a bit of time.

Many experts suggest one minute per age they are, starting from about three years old. (Any younger than that, and it is pointless to swat or spank to discipline your child - they don't understand why you are hitting them.) Rather than being a punitive experience, stress that the timeout is just a chance to slow things down, get control of the emotions.

One way to do this is to tell the child that they can come out when they are ready to play nicer. This way, they are learning to use a timeout as a coping mechanism for the stresses in their life.

Next article: Insights From Child Discipline Statistics