Only 1 out of 5 Children Free From Physical Harm at Parents' Hands

Last week, I posted a ginormous rant about how a mom on a Southwest Airlines flight slapped her 13 month old child (who was already sporting a black eye) on the face and legs without any legal repurcussion whatsoever.   I expressed my outrage that in our society "parental rights" trump the rights of a child to be free from harm and abuse.  (And yes, just to be clear, I believe spanking in any form IS abuse.)

In the day or so following that post, two articles were published that show just how prevalent this abuse is in our society.  According to University of North Carolina researchers, a whopping 79 percent of parents spank their pre-schoolers; nearly 25 percent do so with an object other than their hand.  Tulane University researchers found that 65 percent of 3 year olds were spanked within the previous month; they also found that children whose parents were aggressive towards one another were far more likely to spank their children.  (No surprise there, of course.  Abuse begets abuse.)

The truth about the sad state of parenting - and childhood - in our country?  Only 1 out of every 5 young children is free from physical abuse at the hands of their parents.  1 out of 5.   

These statistics are appalling.  Our children deserve so much better - so much more love and compassion - than that.

A Call to Action

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to change.  It's not. 

- Dr. Seuss

To you, the 79 percent that are spanking your children: Educate yourself about the harm and ineffectiveness of physical punishment, and learn new ways to parent - gently. 

To you, who stand with me in the belief that our children deserve the same love, respect and gentleness that we adults require, speak out - teach others - do whatever you can to spread the word.  Your advocacy WILL make a difference.

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NOTATION:


In 1999, Dr. Elizabeth Thompson Gershoff of Arizona State University conducted a meta-analysis, pulling together the findings from 84 international studies on corporal punishment, involving nearly 40,000 subjects.  She found links between spanking and 10 negative behaviors or experiences, including aggression, antisocial behavior and mental health problems.   Findings were exceptionally robust that corporal punishment:

... decreases children's moral internalization
... increases aggression in childhood
... increases criminal and anti-social behavior in childhood
... undermines a positive relationship between parent and child
... impairs mental health in childhood
... increases the likelihood that children will be victims of physical abuse

More info at: http://www.wavetrust.org/index.htm?http://www.wavetrust.org/Preventing_Violence/Effects_of_Smacking.htm