Study finds spanking can lead to bullying

A study published in the May issue of the Pediatrics magazine has lent more credence to the opinion held by many that spanking a child will ultimately do more harm than good.  Children who were spanked when they were three showed bullying tendencies by the time they were five years old.   Other studies have shown similar results but in this case the researchers allowed for controls in areas which may have had an effect such as  neglect, drug use or depression of the mother etc.  "The way you discipline depends on the age of the child and pediatricians should give age appropriate suggestions about how to discipline toddlers"  Patricia Hametz, MD, tells WebMD

In the journal Child Development, Lisa Berlin,  the lead author of a study at the center for Child and Family Policy at Duke University,  found children who were spanked as young as one year old tended to behave more aggressively at age two and performed poorly on a test measuring thinking skills compared to other children of the same age at age three.

The American Academy of Pediatrics shows results from a 2000 survey of 2068 parents with children ranging in age from 4 to 35 months.  The survey questioned parents on their use of various disciplinary techniques and found that the parents are more likely to spank when they are emotionally  at a low point  and that younger mothers were more inclined to spank. 

Many people do continue to advocate spanking claiming it is the most expedient way to get a child to do as he is told.  The question many families are asking now is, obedience, but at what price?

In today's more fractured society with families living far away from each other, a basic lack of support can be the undoing of a parent and lead  them to resort to an action they might rather prefer to avoid.   Parenting groups, La Leche League and Pediatricians offices offer various resources to help a young parent who may be struggling with how to discipline their child.   Here in Lincoln Family Services offer various parenting classes along with the Lincoln Medical Education Partnership .   Various churches in Lincoln have MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers ) groups where you can gather for support and fun.  Finally Attachment Parenting International  has local groups here in Lincoln where you will be offered friendship and advice on how to parent without spanking and to discipline peacefully.

Parenting is a minefield.  Sometimes what you need is a really good map.  And chocolate.  Lots and lots of chocolate.