If There Any Worth of Spanking Kids

Is spanking bad for kids? “The Evidence Shows That Spanking Is Bad for Kids” by Elizabeth Gershoff and Andrew Grogan Kaylor talks about how spanking results in a negative outcome developed overtime. In reference to the findings of what may happen if spanking is done on a child the author says that spanking is the cause of children problematic behavior.

Studies showed that the more the child was spanked “the more aggressive and antisocial they would be”. Gershoff and Kaylor make many statements defending spanking is bad for children. First, Gershoff and Kaylor state that children who were spanked are more than likely to have mental health issues, difficult relationships with their guardians and lower intellective means. Most of Gershoff and Kaylor’s findings were that children that are spanked are at a significant risk of “physical abuse by their parents”.

The authors argue that corporal punishment is detrimental to children. Gershoff and Kaylor found that parents spanking children increase bad behavior regardless of how loving the parent is. Spanking increases the problematic behavior over time proving that being affectionate helps children be loving and responsible kids.

One last argument made in the article is that there is “No reason to spank”. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents not spank their kids. The authors state that any physical punishment to be violence. “A total of 49 countries have already banned all types of physical punishment of children”.

While some of the points by Gershoff and Kaylor are logical, I find myself disagreeing but also agreeing with the article. I feel that spanking children isn’t necessarily negative to a child’s behavior. It all depends on why or how often it happens. I do believe if you spank a child on a daily basis it could led to problematic behavior but if it is once every once in a while, I think it is okay depending on what happened. As for Gershoff and Kaylor’s statement about children are physically abused by their parents when they are spanked, I disagree with to an extent. If they are being spanked for something, they did wrong I think it’s okay. But if it is just because I disagree with. Again, it all comes down to what has happened and how often you do it.

Finally, I do believe that when you show affection to a child it helps them become loving individuals. While I did not know that 49 countries have banned all kinds of physical punishment I not sure if I agree with it. I do don’t know think they should be beat but a little swat on the butt wouldn’t hurt.