Search Results for: blog spanking or hitting

Spanking Makes Kids Dumb?

A new study claims that the more a child is spanked, the lower his IQ is. My first thought when I heard the study was that perhaps the child with the lower IQ was less obedient and that is why they got more spankings. The study also claims to refute that point. For the life of me, I can’t imagine how hitting a child on the butt removes smart cells from his brain. The whole study just seems very peculiar. According to a MSNBC article on the subject, “Straus and his colleague Mallie Paschall of the Pacific Institute for Research … Continue reading →

Spanking: Risks and Legal Concerns

First of all, I want to start right off by saying I am not an attorney. However, I worked for almost 10 years as a Child Protective Services (CPS) Caseworker investigating allegations of abuse and neglect, and testifying in Court. I have seen a lot of really bad things happen to kids. I have also seen a lot of good parenting, and parents who just need a little support and help. Spanking is one of the main questions people ask me about when it concerns CPS. Some of the questions concerning spanking that I will address: 1. Is it legal … Continue reading →

Bill To Make Spanking A Crime Dropped

Here’s an update on a blog I did about California Assemblywoman Sally Lieber’s proposed bill banning spanking. On Thursday, the effort was dropped after Lieber conceded that the bill had little chance of passing. If the bill had passed, California would have become the first state to make spanking of a child under the age of 3 a crime. Lieber ran into opposition from lawmakers, many of who felt a law banning a parent’s right to spank their own child would not only be intrusive but unenforceable. Lieber said that allowing parents to continue to spank their kids was a … Continue reading →

California Considers Banning Spanking

California spankers beware, you may have to pay a fine or face jail time for spanking your kids. The state Legislature is seeking to outlaw spanking kids under the age of 3. Assemblywoman Sally Lieber of Mountain View, sponsored the bill. If it passes, California will become the first state to ban parents from spanking their kids. The bill is still being drafted and will be written in broad terms but will be written to prohibit “any striking of a child, any corporal punishment, smacking, hitting or punching”. The offense would be considered a misdemeanor and a parent could face … Continue reading →

Ways to Avoid Spanking

Although not every parent believes in spanking, for those who do, especially single parents that have added stress in dealing with children, I wanted to provide some alternatives to consider. I know that I only spanked my children on rare occasion. Instead, I found positive ways of discipline that actually were far more effective. Today, I have a 22 and 24 year-old, both wonderful and well adjusted adults. With spanking being such a controversial subject, experts have begun to conduct some in-depth studies to determine the long-term effects on the child. It was discovered that study after study showed children … Continue reading →

Yelling is Still Bad

You’ve heard the old joke: If you don’t yell at your kids, then you aren’t spending enough time with them. Well, parenting experts aren’t laughing at that one. Regardless, it isn’t stopping frustrated moms and dads from raising their voices when their kids misbehave. Nine years ago, a study published in The Journal of Marriage and Family, found that 88 percent of nearly 1000 parents interviewed admitted shouting, yelling or screaming at their children in the previous year. That percentage jumped to 98 percent in families with 7-year-old children. Today, that number has barely budged. Recent polls show that parents … Continue reading →

Outgrowing Time Outs

The day has finally come. What has lasted for more than five years has reached a sad conclusion. R.I.P. time outs. My six-year-old has officially outgrown the punishment made famous by a TV nanny. So long time out and the seat that forced my child into submission. You restored order in our home for more than 2000 days, and helped preserve my sanity by removing my kid from activities in which she exercised inappropriate behavior. So now what? I relied heavily on time outs to discipline my child. They were effective in that they provided consistent consequences and the place … Continue reading →

Time Outs for Toddlers

To say I am a firm believer in time outs for toddlers is an understatement. I have tried everything to get my son to behave and listen to what I tell him. He is a very strong-willed, hard-headed, stubborn child. He is full of energy and determination. Consequently, he is always getting into trouble. My son’s most recent reaction to getting into trouble is to smile and come over and hug me. I recently told him, “I don’t want a hug. I want you to listen and to do what you are told.” At that point, he leaned in and … Continue reading →

Can You Be Too Strict with Teens?

In the past week, I have written quite a bit about being a strict parent. Are You a Strict Parent, What Does Strict Parenting Look Like, and Teens Rule if You Don’t Set Teen Rules are the topics that were covered. The above mentioned articles were targeted at parents who had pretty relaxed rules at home, and were struggling to deal with their kids. On the other end of the spectrum, however, are parents who are too strict with their teens. Too strict discipline comes in two forms: There are parents who are strict with kids pretty much from birth … Continue reading →

Toddlers and Hair-Pulling

With toddlers and preschoolers, there can be all sorts of sudden physical behaviors that cause grief—biting, hitting, and slapping can go hand-in-hand with temper tantrums. Hair-pulling is another one of those physical, lashing-out behaviors that can be tough to control and stop with the preschool set. There is a difference between the curious and absent-minded hair pulling that a baby does—wrapping his fingers in someone’s hair and giving it a tug—and the purposeful gripping and yanking that an angry toddler or preschooler can do. As a parent, we might find it tough to stop that impulsive behavior and not only … Continue reading →