Abuse and Discipline:
A Comparison

94% of parents of toddlers reported using corporal punishment in the previous 12 months; 35% hit infants (Strauss, 2000, pp. 1109-1114¹).

In an American study, 28.4% of parents of two to four-year-olds and 28% of five to eight-year-olds reported using an object to spank the bottoms of their children (Gallup Survey). Thus more than one in four parents admit to using an object to hit their children in the name of discipline (Gershoff, 2002, p. 602-611²).

In January, 2004, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld Section 43 of the Criminal Code, stating parents had the right to spank their children without fear of being charged with a criminal offence.

But this spanking law has some new restrictions.

The law now states that spanking is permitted with children between the ages of 2 years and 12 years, that the use of weapons like belts and paddles are prohibited, that strikes to the face and head are also prohibited, and that only reasonable force can be administered.

Some would argue that any physical force constitutes abuse, where others maintain that spanking falls under the category of reasonable discipline.

While it is not my intent to tell parents how to discipline their children, I do strongly urge parents to make an informed decision by checking out what spanking really teaches children.