JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
There has been endless debate and controversy regarding the effectiveness of spanking. Some say "Spare the rod, spoil the child." Others are convinced that spanking can have harmful, detrimental effects on children.
To assist you with this age-old debate, we in Family Advocacy consulted the guru of all information: Google. We reviewed several articles for the purpose of provoking thought and encouraging the reader to consider potential impacts of physical punishment.
One Time article from February 2012, titled "Why Spanking Doesn't Work," cited a study that was conducted over the course of twenty years and investigated the effects of physical punishment. The article noted that spanking does in fact stop behaviors in the short term. For example, if your child tries to touch a hot stove and you slap his hand to prevent him from doing so, the child will most likely not keep reaching for the stove.
Alas, according to this study, this may be the only positive outcome of spanking. Other outcomes suggested physical punishment tends to increase physically aggressive behaviors in children. Additionally, spanking can lead to other undesirable behaviors, such as lying. After all, how many of us twisted the truth when we were younger to avoid repercussions?
Because the study followed the lives of 80 children for 20 years, the researchers were able to observe differences in children who were regularly spanked and those who were not. Researchers found that children who were physically punished were at higher risk for developing depression, anxiety and substance abuse when they got older.
Another article, which cited two studies, presented interesting results. In 1997, the New York Times published an article titled "2 Spanking Studies Indicate Parents should be Cautious." One of the studies by Dr. Marjorie Lindner Gunnoe demonstrated that for some, spanking resulted in fewer fights in school. This same study also showed that rates of antisocial behavior increased in children.
Dr. Murray Strauss, who conducted the second study, also found that rates of antisocial behavior increased among children who were spanked. In their studies, antisocial does not indicate shyness or withdrawn behavior, but rather feeling no remorse when hurting others. This suggests that while spanking can have short-term benefits, it can potentially have undesired negative implications.
In addition to encouraging the reader to consider the type of punishment, these studies also consider whether punishment is truly needed or beneficial in some circumstances. When most children hit the beautiful age of two, they find their inner "No!" - and express it repeatedly. The meltdowns and strong-willed behavior can drive the most patient of saints to consider raising their hand in anger.
Depending on the child's age, the behavior that is observed may not actually be oppositional but a result of the child's development. A Time article cited Dr. Durrant's interaction with her child as an example. When her son was 3 years old, he dropped his father's toothbrush in the toilet. Dr. Durrant realized that he was experimenting - he wanted to see what would happen when the toothbrush is in the water. After all, he had dropped other things in other bodies of water -- why would a toilet and toothbrush be any different from a toy dropped in the bathtub?
Where some of us might have conniptions and hide all toothbrushes (not to mention gargling with mouthwash for good measure), she took a different approach. When she explained to him what the toilet and toothbrush were used for and had him consider whether or not his father would want to use the toothbrush, her son put two and two together and came up with four. Sometimes, understanding what developmental stage a child is in can help a parent see that the child's actions aren't personal, even though they feel personal.
So; to spank or not to spank? That may still be the question. The only definitive conclusion we can draw is that even though spanking works in the short term, the long term effects don't seem so positive. The reality is that using corporal punishment on one's child is legal in Virginia. However, it is illegal for physical punishment to leave marks.
To learn about alternatives to spanking, contact your military branch's Family Advocacy Program. As the toddler years can be challenging, all branches of the Armed Forces have a new parent support program. Nurses and social workers can visit your home to offer education on your child's developmental stage and helpful ways to get through challenging times. The program is available to those expecting or who have a child up to 3 years old.
Family Advocacy Strength-based Treatment services are available for those with children older than three. With FAST, social workers provide education and information regarding parenting. Both programs are free and voluntary. For more information at Langley Air Force Base, call 764-2427; at Ft. Eustis, call 878-0807.