II. Definition
- Physical punishment in response to undesirable behavior
III. Precautions
- Physical punishment is not recommended by AAP
- Spanking may escalate into physical abuse
- Other forms of Discipline are preferred
- Spanking is inappropriate under age 18 months
- Never strike child with object
- Never use enough force to leave lasting skin mark
- Never jerk a child's arms, pull hair or shake a child
- Never deliver punishment with anger and intent of pain
IV. Technique: Spanking
- Open hand strikes buttocks or extremities
- Goal: modify behavior without inflicting injury
V. Efficacy: Spanking
- Less effective than Time-Out or Removal of Privileges
- May be effective in short-term
- Loses effect with continued use
- Maintaining effect would require increasing intensity
- Risk of escalating to physical abuse
VI. Adverse effects
- Risk of injury to child (especially <18 months)
- May foster aggressive behavior by child
- Promotes adversarial relationship with child
- Renders Time-Out less effective and more difficult
VII. Resources
VIII. References
- Wyckoff (1984) Discipline without Shouting, p. 8
- Banks (2002) Am Fam Physician 66(8):1447-52 [PubMed]
- Stein (1998) Pediatrics 101(4 Pt 1):723-8 [PubMed]