Fewer American Parents Are Spanking Their Kids

More are relying on timeouts to discipline children, study shows

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Nov. 14, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Spanking and hitting children to discipline
them has been on the decline among U.S. parents -- rich and poor alike -- since 1988, a
new study finds.
According to the researchers, the number of mothers with an average income level who
considered physical discipline acceptable decreased from 46 percent to 21 percent over two
decades.
At the same time, mothers who felt timeouts were a better type of discipline rose from 51
percent to 71 percent, the investigators found.
"Parents seem to be using more reasoning and nonphysical discipline strategies with
children, which is in line with what the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended in
1998," said lead researcher Rebecca Ryan. She's an associate professor of psychology at
Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
"At all income and education levels, parents' attitudes toward physical punishment have
changed over the last 20 years and, very likely, their behavior with their children," she said.
For the study, Ryan and her colleagues reviewed four national studies of kindergarten-age
children -- about 5 years old. The studies were conducted between 1988 and 2011.

Although a cultural shift away from physical discipline has occurred, some parents still
believe spanking and hitting is the best way to control unwanted behavior, the findings
showed.
More low-income parents than high-income parents still believe in hitting children to
discipline them. Yet poorer parents, like richer parents, are increasingly using timeouts, the
study authors noted.
Nearly one-third of mothers with the lowest incomes still spanked or hit kindergarten-age
children. Almost 25 percent reported using physical punishment in the last week, the
researchers said.
Parents with the highest incomes are less likely to endorse or report using physical discipline
than those at the bottom of the income scale, the study found.
The report was published online Nov. 14 in the journal Pediatrics.
Dr. Heidi Feldman is a professor of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Stanford
University School of Medicine in Palo Alto, Calif. She said, "It is very good news that over
the last 30 to 40 years, the percentage of parents endorsing physical discipline has declined
while the percentage of parents reporting nonphysical discipline increased."
According to Feldman, who wrote an accompanying editorial in the journal, "It is
encouraging that this trend occurred across all socioeconomic groups."
The study authors suggest that the publication of a policy statement by the American
Academy of Pediatrics in the middle of the study period may have accelerated the declining
rates, Feldman said.
"It is hard from these survey data, however, to determine the cause of the trend," she said.
Feldman recommends updating the pediatricians' policy.
"More change is necessary. In addition, the previous policy statement included several other
positive recommendations for parents, such as strategies for promoting optimal parent-child
relationships and for reinforcing desirable behavior," she wrote.
"If attitudes and practices have changed, then pediatricians and the public may be ready for
advice on alternative discipline methods," Feldman added.
Still, the decline in physical discipline is welcome, she said.
"It's good news, because nonphysical discipline is more effective, kind and safe than is
physical discipline," Feldman said.

Marlo Kyn B. Bunda

TCP 1-A
1. What is it all about?
The article is about how to discipline the kids. According to study, it shows that nonphysical discipline is more effective, kind and safe than physical discipline. Non-physical
discipline refers to the three-step approach recommended by American Academy of
Pediatrics or AAP. The AAP recommends a three-step approach toward effective child
discipline. First, establish a positive, supporting and loving relationship with your child.
Without this foundation, your child has no reason, other than fear, to demonstrate good
behavior. Second, use positive reinforcement to increase the behavior you want from
your child. Third, if you feel discipline is necessary, the AAP recommends that you do
not spank or use other physical punishments. That only teaches aggressive behavior, and
becomes ineffective if used often. Instead, use appropriate time outs for young children.
Discipline older children by temporarily removing favorite privileges, such as sports
activities or playing with friends.
2. What is its relevance to your profession as teacher?
This is very relevant to teachers as this reinforces the importance of non-physical
discipline to students. This can be shared also to parents who are reported by their
children to be hitting and spanking them. If this will be shared to parents, the teacher will
be able to make the parents realize the importance of non-physical discipline and its
benefits to their children.
3. Reference:

https://consumer.healthday.com/kids-health-information-23/parenting-healthnews-525/fewer-parents-are-spanking-their-kids-study-716786.html

Rebecca Ryan, Ph.D., associate professor, psychology, Georgetown University,

Washington, D.C.; Heidi Feldman, M.D. Ph.D., professor, developmental and
behavioral pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif.;
Nov. 14, 2016,Pediatrics, online