Spare The Rod And Spoil The Child

“Spare the rod and spoil the child” implies that children have to be physically punished in order to develop. Although spanking was commonly used in the past, hitting causes emotional consequences in children’s future, including aggressiveness and insecurity. Opponents to this position argue that physical punishment is a good way to teach children when they misbehave. Because hitting has an immediate effect on children, parents think that spanking them is the best tool to control inappropriate behavior. Physical punishment teaches children discipline, making them afraid of the consequences of undesirable behavior.

But in some cases, parents go on beating their child and don’t realize the damage they are causing through this repeated aggressive disciplining. This could cause serious mental and psychological problems in children. Children may start to have social problems at school, and may exhibit aggressive behaviour. Research indicates that children who grow up in violent homes are likely to become violent and aggressors when they grow up. The communication between the parent and the child is also inhibited with severe disciplining methods. Usually those children who are physically punished tend not to develop a mature and open attitude because they are constantly inhibited by their parents’ violence.

So the end question is should the child be spanked as a disciplinary action? The answer may be yes and no. ‘here are times with certain children that a spanking is the most effective response to misbehavior. Adults have a responsibility to help children control misbehavior. That requires, in any given situation, the most effective disciplinary response available. But in the end, the child needs to be assured of love and care from his parents and repeated coaching for acceptable standards of behaviour. Spanking accomplishes a short term goal of controlling misbehavior, but it does not reach the long term goal of teaching the child the right behaviour.