10. Corporal Punishment Should be Outlawed
Spanking is on the outs these days. It’s been deemed child abuse and an affront to that all important self-esteem. This argument is laughable. Anyone who beats their child is not disciplining. That’s abuse. But a paddling as a punishment for a pre-agreed reason is giving a child boundaries and teaching which behaviors are acceptable.
You’ve probably heard of the illustration of a playground on a busy street corner. There was no fencing because the adults decided it would inhibit the children’s play. The opposite occurred.
The children huddled together in the middle of the playground, leaving most of the play equipment empty. Once fences were put up, the kids exploited every inch of that playground.
Why?
Because they had boundaries, and it made them feel secure. Properly employed discipline works the same way. You inform the child of what infractions will result in what punishment. They cross the line fully aware.
They are punished in a way that fits the infraction. The boundaries are established. The child is now free to grow and explore in a secure environment. Sometimes it’s a paddling, sometimes a meaningful look—each child is different. Without these boundaries, children will feel insecure, unsure, and constantly act out, desperate for someone to put a stop to their behavior, because they’re not sure they can.
