Science: Actually, you can beat sense into your kids
Original Source
The secret? Get ‘em while they’re young.
It found that children who are smacked before the age of six perform better at school when they are teenagers.
They are also more likely to do voluntary work and to want to go to university than those who have never been physically disciplined.
But the study also revealed that children who are smacked after the age of six were more likely to exhibit behavioural problems, such as being involved in fights.
Smacking is currently banned in 20 European countries, including Germany, Spain and the Netherlands…
Two years ago, Britain was criticised by the UN for failing to ban smacking in the home, after experts said it was a form of abuse.
How unlike the UN to frown on discipline. I have no parental anecdotes to share here, but can report that I received the helpful corrective slap well past the age of six and suffered no discernible ill effects. Except, perhaps, for the whole beta-male thing, which, er, would explain the lack of parental anecdotes. Exit question: What makes six the magic number? My guess is that that’s when kids finally become intelligent enough to follow verbal commands semi-consistently, but I have a feeling I’m about to be disabused of that notion in the comments rather strenuously.
The secret? Get ‘em while they’re young.
It found that children who are smacked before the age of six perform better at school when they are teenagers.
They are also more likely to do voluntary work and to want to go to university than those who have never been physically disciplined.
But the study also revealed that children who are smacked after the age of six were more likely to exhibit behavioural problems, such as being involved in fights.
Smacking is currently banned in 20 European countries, including Germany, Spain and the Netherlands…
Two years ago, Britain was criticised by the UN for failing to ban smacking in the home, after experts said it was a form of abuse.
How unlike the UN to frown on discipline. I have no parental anecdotes to share here, but can report that I received the helpful corrective slap well past the age of six and suffered no discernible ill effects. Except, perhaps, for the whole beta-male thing, which, er, would explain the lack of parental anecdotes. Exit question: What makes six the magic number? My guess is that that’s when kids finally become intelligent enough to follow verbal commands semi-consistently, but I have a feeling I’m about to be disabused of that notion in the comments rather strenuously.
Comment
-
Comment by Sylvia Smart on February 15, 2010 at 12:18pm -
I raised two children using old-fashioned discipline and high expectations of compliance. They were not abused - but they were not elevated to Gods in my home either. Both grew up to be responsible and productive adults. Later in life I adopted two kids out of foster care - I was not allowed to use physical discipline with them. They were expected to magically be civilized by using positive reinforcement and TLC. Well, it didn't work - and although they were loved and nurtured and I had high hopes for them - they both turned out to be parasitical brats when they become teens, who will probably plague the world until they leave it. It has been the biggest mistake of my life. When you cannot reinforce the rules and there are no tangible consequences to making poor choices - a human being will usually not be self-limiting. This type of behavior is habitual, escalates, and we can see the results in these irresponsible, selfish, out-of-control grown men and women in the White House, Senate and the House - all seem to be spoiled brats with the power to pursue their own agendas without consequences to them.
-
Comment by Becky on January 6, 2010 at 6:12pm -
I have no objections. My parents were supporters of physical discipline and I remember as a kid keeping that in mine as I considered acting out of line.
© 2012 Created by Becky.
You need to be a member of Outside The Birdcage to add comments!
Join Outside The Birdcage