Reasons why you shouldn't spank

Spanking your children is a quick fix that works short term but not long term. Some kids are easier to care for than others due to their disposition, or maturity level / understanding. Then there's the children that seem to be born with a difficult disposition. The child/ren that never seem to listen and that are always getting into trouble. Even more, with ADHD, ADD and other conditions similar to that on the rise it becomes a challenge to any parent. Especially to the parents that aren't aware of why their child is behaving in a certain way. Running, jumping off everything, into everything, not listening and absolutely driving you up a wall. Instead of spanking make a doctors appointment. He his advice, read books and learn as much as you can.

Certain medical condition will affect children's behavior. It is easy for parents to get fed up with the wild, and crazy, unruly kids, that don't seem to ever want to listen. Which could be due to a medical condition. Trauma, divorce, etc.. If these kids are spanked it will just make matters worse.

I have noticed through the years that ignorance of understanding the proper ways to parent a child can cause a world of heart ache in the future. It is a lack of knowing how to give proper constructive discipline. Instead of going on impulse and picking up a belt, or using your hand, or some other foreign object to hit your child into submission. The majority of parents that spank, or beat their child was parented in a very similar way.

Human life, and any given individual child should be treated respectfully. Some kids all you have to do is tell them in a calm voice that what they did wasn't nice, or whatever form of proper way of speaking to the child so they understand that they shouldn't have done this, or that. And instead that they need to do this, or what have you. In addition, just like you would calmly talk to another adult that you are trying to help. Maybe a friend. To get your point across you wouldn't literally spank your friend into understanding, and I don't think you would con-figuratively speaking either if you wanted to keep that person as a friend. Instead you would show him / her respect, talk calmly and get your point across. Just like that. Why can't it be that way with kids?

- Does it take a Ph D in child psychology to treat kids respectfully enough... in order to not go off on them and spank them?

- The answer is No, it doesn't take an advanced degree in anything in order to treat kids fairly.

I think the book: 'Everything I Needed to Learn I Learned in Kindergarten' is the best example for proper behavior toward how we should treat others. Even more, by 'teaching by example' we change the world. One person at a time. Even if that person is our child.

If we communicate when we are disappointed, or happy with their behavior in more times than not, that is all it takes to get your point across and to make a difference. Positive, healthy communication. If that isn't the way you were raised then head out to your local library, book store, or read online how to books on effective communication skills, etc..

Timeout is a good one that kids absolutely hate! Even if they have a ton of awesome stuff in their room to play with they generally do not like the idea of having to remain in their rooms. Another great tip is to let your child choose their own discipline. (I was surprised to learn that this really works great! ) Children really do value fairness and are harder on themselves. We are all harder on ourselves than anyone else every could be. Kids are know different.

Children that are of school age do a great job picking out their own discipline. Give it a try. You will be surprised how well this works. Now remember, if they say that they won't be able to use their X box, cell phone, or something else like that... chances are, that they will greatly miss it, or that it is very meaningful to them. Don't think your kids are trying to outsmart you by picking some lame punishment. Just except what they choose and go with that, or at least compromise.

For timeout one minute for every year old they are. Example: if your child is five years old put him in time out for five minutes. The amount of time they get goes by age. Ideas for timeout could be having the child stand facing the wall, or corner of the wall, or sitting in a time out chair.

There are many great tips out there when you go by developmental age. Keep track of what to expect with your child from age zero to eight-teen. All the help you can get shows your willingness to produce an excellent human being and your own good judgment. Learning about the different things to expect by age really is valuable and gives you an idea of what to expect and relate too.

Remember that knowledge is power and reading, and learning about the proper ways to discipline children is a beginning step that could change the course of their life forever, and the generations after them.

The majority of criminals state that they were physically, or emotionally abused as a child. Statistics show that beating children as a way to punish them is repeated from generation to generation until the cycle is broken.

These days with the rise in medical conditions with ADHD, ADD, ODD, etc. that has some children harder to handle because of some of their behavior traits/ conditions with not paying attention, to not thinking things through before acting, and many other things that some children do that upsets: teachers, child care workers, and parents alike. A plan should be in place for these children because we do not want their self esteem effected and we want to solve the problem(s) at hand with any given child. The first thing that should be done is to make an appointment with your doctor and discuss your child's behavior to determine if the child has a medical condition causing the behavior.

Further more, to eliminate harsh discipline, or drugging these kids it would be much better to learn about their pit falls, and work toward goals for: improving their behavior, and building up self esteem along the way. That goes far.. because some children that have any one of these conditions might be treated unkindly at times by people (adults and their peers) that aren't aware of their condition which could affect their self esteem by people's judgments. For the child to know their condition and work at ways they can improve their behavior, etc. and adults using positive discipline to encourage them to make better choices and decisions will make all the difference in the world to that child.

In addition, learn as much as you can about healthy ways to parent without loosing control. There are a number of different ways you can benefit from exploring your options by: reading books on child rearing, to watching videos, to taking a parent class or two; before you decide to spank your child into submission.

Knowledge makes all the difference and that knowledge is learning how to effectively parent in winning ways. Don't fall for the old mind frame of believing that the best way to parent is the way you were parented... and that being, with the belt at your behind! Don't make the same mistakes your parents made if they spanked you. Just remember how you felt as a child, etc.. And skip repeating the past ignorant way of disciplining that was and is harmful to any given child's emotional need/ level.