Should Parents Be Able To Spank Children

Many people question if parents should be able to spank their children. Spanking is still very popular in the US and experts believe that it can cause health issues later in life. Although some parents say spanking is the only disciplinary method that works, it can actually harm the child because it sends the wrong message, usually turns into a more severe, and hurtful punishment, and could make the child have serious health and safety risks in the future.
Although spanking is harmful, if a child ran into the street to get their toy, a parent cannot go out and just scold the child, the child does not learn because they are just being yelled at. Instead, one careful spank should take place, but only to grab the child’s attention, not to hurt them. A huge line is drawn between discipline and punishment. …show more content…
If the children do not fear the consequence of their wrong action when punished, they only fear the pain their parents will afflict on them. Pain should not be the message sent, it should be that with every wrong action or decision, a consequence is going to take place. Spanking, or any physical punishment at that, is not a real world consequence; in real life situations, certain possessions are taken when certain decisions are made (Yorio). Another message the parents are sending is that causing others pain, because the child is angry, sad, depressed, and so on, is the right action to take in the real world (Krugman). In this state of mind, though, adults are being sent to jail, or at least arrested, if they hit each other. Children should be getting the same respect, especially since they are much smaller and less pain tolerant than a grown adult (Staples). Physical punishment is only taking the child downhill, they are being negatively influenced when being