A leading paediatrician has recently called for the banning of smacking children and now a Canadian study backs up his claims — finding that slapping kids may have long-term, harmful effects on their development.
In a letter published in the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health today, Dr Gervase Chaney, President of Paediatric and Child Health at the Royal Australian College of Physicians claimed that Australia is lagging behind other countries outlawing smacking, and compares some cases as forms of child abuse.
To further fuel the debate, a new review of 20 years of research has found links between "everyday" types of physical punishment (slapping and spanking) and higher levels of child aggression.
"I think it's important for parents to understand that although physical punishment might get a child to do something in the immediate situation, there are many side effects that can develop over the long term," said co-author Joan Durrant, a child clinical psychologist at Family Social Sciences at the University of Manitoba in Canada.
"For example, the more often a child sees a parent respond to conflict or frustration with slapping or spanking, the more likely that child will do the same when confronting their own conflicts."
Based on such findings, experts are increasingly encouraging parents to discipline their children with positive, nonviolent approaches.
Dannielle Miller, teacher and parenting expert told Today that smacking is not an effective form of punishment and usually the parent feels guilty afterwards.
She suggests age-appropriate punishment works better, such as time out for toddlers or withdrawal of privileges — no TV or bedtime story.
Watch the video above for more information
Have your say: do you think smacking should be banned?
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