Research has shown that spanking children does not help, and can make things worse. It rarely improves your child's behaviour and it can damage your relationship with your child if you over use this form of punishment.

However, if you have smacked your child, try not to feel guilty about it. Many of us have at one time or another. It is unlikely to do any lasting damage, as long as you try to avoid it as a regular punishment. Positive parenting is about being positive about yourself too! Many parents feel guilty a lot of the time for not getting it right. Remember - no-one gets it right all of the time.

Again, if you feel your temper rise, try to walk away, go and thump your pillow rather than spanking your child!

In parenting spanking as discipline rarely works in the long term. You will find many other possible ways to deal with bad bahavior, other than smacking children, on the page links below and on Controlling behavior.




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