Prezentatsia1

Scientific research
Harvard University researchers investigated the effects of smacking, known as corporal punishment, on the brains of 147 children.

Katie A. McLaughlin
at Harvard's Department of Psychology
'We know that children whose families use corporal punishment are more likely to develop anxiety, depression, behaviour problems, and other mental health problems, but many people don't think about spanking as a form of violence.

Smacking could alter a child's neural responses to their environment in similar ways to a child experiencing more severe violence

As a form of punishment, smacking has 3 other big drawbacks that we will look at in the following slides

First, there’s a risk that smacking might hurt your child.

Second, it can give children the message that smacking or hitting other people is an OK way to deal with strong feelings.

Third, physical punishment like smacking can lead to longer-term problems in children’s health and development. Children who are smacked can be more aggressive than children who aren’t smacked. They’re more likely to have challenging behaviour, anxiety or depression.

There are better ways than smacking to guide children towards good behaviour.

Give clear and consistent limits about what you expect
hildren need to know how you want them to behave and for this to be clear. An example might be: “It’s not OK to hit your brother” or “You can’t take lollies off the supermarket shelves without asking me first.”

Manage your own emotions
Anger is contagious, so try not to lose your temper in front of your kids. Instead, pause before you react: take three deep breaths, have a cold drink of water, or step outside for a moment.

Be a good role model for your child when you don’t manage situations well
Parents need to show how they manage their own emotions - or make amends when they act in less-than-ideal ways. Parents should be brave enough to say “I’m sorry I got angry and shouted at you. I wasn’t very patient.”

Explore the emotions behind behaviour
Kids can be uncertain or confused by their emotions. So, try and help them understand their feelings. This could include saying something like “I can see you felt left out and jealous”.

Resolve problems when everyone is calm
No one can think, talk or listen properly if they are upset. Take time to do some breathing or something soothing with your child. Or perhaps they need a run around to release strong feelings.

Support children to make amends
When everyone is calmer, help them work out the solution or next step. This teaches them how to resolve situations, repair relationships and take responsibility for their behaviour. You might say something like, “It can be embarrassing saying sorry to someone you’ve been angry with. What do you think might help?”