Voyforums Spanking (2024)

FAQs

Should a 12 year old be spanked? ›

But as a general guideline, I would suggest that most corporal punishment be finished prior to the first grade (six years old). It should taper off from there and stop when the child is between the ages of ten and twelve.

Despite opposition from medical and social-services professionals, as of 2024, the spanking of children is legal in all 50 states and, as of 2014, most people still believe it is acceptable provided it does not involve implements.

Because physical abuse happens whenever an adult intentionally uses physical force against a child, technically, any intentional striking of a child, even a spanking, is abuse.

The survey suggests that a majority of children in the US were not being spanked in the past year. The rate of spanking was 49% in the past year for children ages 0–9, 23% for youth 10–17 and 37% overall. The only group for whom spanking seemed to occur to more than half were the children ages 2–7.

Research over the last 20 years has demonstrated that spanking increases aggression in young children and is ineffective in changing their undesirable behavior, the AAP says. Studies have also linked spanking to an increased risk of mental health disorders and impaired brain development.

Children remember being spanked, and as adults these memories are very strong and lead to feelings of significant anger and betrayal.

“Preschool and school age children — and even adults — [who have been] spanked are more likely to develop anxiety and depression disorders or have more difficulties engaging positively in schools and skills of regulation, which we know are necessary to be successful in educational settings,” he says.

Hitting children, even for “discipline,” is a form of trauma. Some adults cling to the excuse that a single swat on the bottom, or one slap on the head, can't be that bad, and is necessary to “teach them a lesson.”

As a general rule, natural and logical consequences, reparations, and learning opportunities are usually effective disciplinary measures, while eliminating privileges, taking away healthy outlets, and engaging in corporal punishment are generally counterproductive.