I was on a radio show recently where we discussed discipline and when physical discipline crosses over into the realm of abuse. I wanted a good definition of child abuse which I found on the website childwelfare.
They define child abuse and neglect in the following way:. The site, childwelfare. Of course, none of these are effective discipline for kids. When does spanking cross the line and turn into abuse? What is the difference between fear and respect in parenting and is it healthy for children to fear their parents? These are the questions I set out to answer. My mom grew up in the south. Louisiana to be exact. I remember her talking about her mother, my grandmother, using a switch to discipline her.
She described a scene where her mom would grab her by one hand and hit her with a tree branch as my mom danced in a circle doing her best to minimize the pain. It sounds comical but at the same time it serves as a reminder at just how harsh this form of discipline can be. I have no doubts my grandmother loved my mom and that she was acting in a manner she believed was best for my mother.
However, there are some practices that are simply outdated, unhealthy, and need to change. Hitting a child with a switch, belt, or any other object is one of those practices. This is when spanking crosses the line. My own personal view on spanking has changed over the years.
I used to believe it was okay. It was to be used only as a last resort, never out of anger, and never resulting in physical harm such as bruising or welts.
