Help to Stop Spanking

Lori Mortimer to the Always Learning list, 2010:

Here's an article describing research that shows that not only is spanking detrimental to kids (increases child's aggression) but that other conventional forms of discipline not only don't "improve" children's behavior but also increase children's anxiety.
Spanking sparks aggression, does little to reduce behavior problems
"It may be that the long-term investments that we make in children, like spending time with them, showing that we love them and listening to them, have a more powerful positive effect on behavior than any form of discipline," said Andrew Grogan-Kaylor, U-M associate professor of social work.

Until I read Dr. William Sears' books, I never realized there was another way to "train my children in the way they will go". Unfortunately it was after my first two were school-age and my 3rd was 3 years old. My 3rd child has benefited greatly though and knows that the only spanks he will ever get from now on are "lip spanks" (our joke for kissies). To any who are still spanking in the name of God ( possibly even though your heart is breaking and you feel sick to your stomach every time like I did), please read the following article. Dr. William Sears, a pediatrician, a father of 8, and a Christian. He explains why spanking doesn't have to be the only "biblical" way of disciplining a child...
10 Reasons Not to Hit Your Child
"wifetovegman2002"

Pamela Sorooshian contributes something from the Baha'i writings:

"Whensoever a mother seeth that her child hath done well, let her praise and applaud him and cheer his heart; and if the slightest undesirable trait should manifest itself, let her counsel the child and punish him, and use means based on reason, even a slight verbal chastisement should this be necessary. It is not, however, permissible to strike a child, or vilify him, for the child's character will be totally perverted if he be subjected to blows or verbal abuse."

A GOOD LINK:
Twenty Alternatives to Punishment

HERE

More on why spanking is a bad idea

There used to be another link here, but since about 2008, the topic of spanking has been rare in unschooling discussions, and so the discussion I had linked (a yahoogroup Pam Sorooshian created and ran) has been quiet for years. [And now yahoogroups are gone.]

OUTSIDE SITES

Stop Spanking (defunct)

Stop Hitting

That site seems to have been purchased and changed now to "Zero Abuse" They have changed focus, which might indicate that spanking is less prevalant than it was when they started. I know in some countries it's illegal and has been so for years, but the U.S. has problems still.

The No Spanking Page (defunct)