Cutting Ties Over Spanking: The Rising Global Corporal Punishment Parenting Debate

Is hitting a child ever justifiable? A father's decision to ban his parents from seeing his 3-year-old daughter after they spanked her has ignited a fierce online debate. According to a 2018 AARP survey, 77% of grandparents believe today's parents are too lax, often leading to unauthorized 'disciplinary' measures that fracture family bonds.

The Generational Gap in Corporal Punishment Parenting Debate

While 54% of American grandparents still view spanking as effective, the legal tide is turning. More than 60 countries, including Brazil with its 2014 'Slap Law', have outlawed physical punishment. Despite this, a 2021 study revealed that 59% of U.S. parents believe it's their right to spank, and 35% consider it necessary for moral development.

What Science Says About Physical Discipline

The expert consensus is nearly unanimous: spanking doesn't work. Harvard University researchers found that a child's brain responds to spanking similarly to extreme forms of violence. Long-term outcomes include increased risks of anxiety, depression, and lower IQ. It's no surprise that only 6% of U.S. pediatricians support the practice, urging parents to adopt non-violent discipline strategies instead.