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Sherry Mullins 

Corporal Punishment

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Hello everyone,

My views and opinions of corporal punishment have evolved over the years.  Before I became a parent, even when I first had my children, I vowed to myself that I would never use corporeal punishment as a form of discipline on my children. I had always associated it with abuse.  I honestly thought it was cruel. As a child, my grandfather was a cruel man and was physically abusive to my grandmother and to his grandchildren. To him it was fun. We did not have to misbehave to be hit by him. Now that I am older and have been introduced to Dr. Dobson, I have become wiser and learned that corporal punishment can be an effective disciplinary tool.   Dr. Dobson (2000) explains to his readers that corporal punishment can benefit children when it is used lovingly and properly  because it is in harmony with nature. Dobson (2004) also spreads the knowledge that if a parent goes into the spanking with a cool head and no anger in their heart it is not abusive. This helped to ease my mind about corporal punishment and abuse. Sure, there are people that do use corporal punishment correctly and it is abuse but it does not have to abuse, and it can be a form of discipline that can help children. 

When using spanking as a discipline method we have to remember that discipline methods are not one size fits all.  Children develop differently and spankings have a different effect on them based on their personality and their experiences (Dobson, 2000).  Children under the age of 18 months should never be spanked because they are too young (Dobson, 2004). 

It is pointed out in the Bible, “Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him." (Proverbs 13:24 NIV). Some see this as  God’s seal of approval to use corporal punishment as a  form of disciplining their children.

 Another important moment in the Bible that concerns discipline is, “Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die. Punish them with the rod and save them from death.” (Proverbs 23:13-14  NIV).  These words from the Christian faith speak of how everyone in the family benefit from discipline, no matter what form of discipline is used.

Even though I approve of corporal punishment as a form of discipline if it is done out of love, I must admit I have never utilized it.  We have only had to use time outs and removal of electronic privileges so far and it has worked out nicely. 

Thank you for reading,

Sherry Mullins

 

References

 

Dobson, J. (2000)  Complete marriage and family home reference guide. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Dobson. J. (2004). The new strong-willed child: Birth through adolescence. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House. 

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