Physical punishment involves disciplining a child by ways that involve spanking, slapping or beating up the child. Most people believe that it is a good way of correcting children while others claim that it is not. Some may do it using the hand or feet, while others choose to use certain tools such as pipes or canes. It has been a method that was highly used in the past by both teachers and parents but is becoming less common as more people realize that it is not helpful. This article seeks to argue against disciplining children by use of physical means. It seeks to reveal the negative implications that physical punishment can cause in the lives of children. It can cause damages on physical, emotional or the character of the child and therefore should be discouraged.
Punishment by physical means is not recommended because it may result to a permanent damage to the child. This occurs when the tool used causes injury to the child or has been applied on a very delicate part like the eye. This may cause blindness or deformation. The child may naturally become aggressive for being used to canning. They may refuse to perform any activities unless they are canned and this becomes a disadvantage.
When parents for instance punish their children through physical means, they imply that they have no control over them and can only prove it through use of such discipline. This then results to an emotional inability to control and the parents feel they have no charge. Their relationship worsens as the child is likely to form an opinion about the parent or teacher. He may associate them with negative things as a result. This may result to avoiding them or abusing them as a way of revenge. The children may become rebellious and create the notion that their parents hate them because they can only correct them by use of physical punishment.
The children who receive physical punishment may grow up having been taught the wrong lesson. Most of them think that force is the only way one can be made to do something. Due to this, they may end up spanking their juniors so they can adhere to what they want them to do. Whenever they get a chance, especially of a weaker or smaller person, they are eager to apply the same. They become the worst play mates and their peers tend to avoid them. This results in withdrawal and more violence. They think others hate them and as a result they become more rebellious. Physical punishment has been associated more with children who live in situations of poverty or have parents who do not love them. They cannot correct them positively and instead have a desire to hurt hem. Therefore, it is mostly associated with unwanted people like children born out of wedlock and thus should be discouraged.
Therefore, physical punishment should be discouraged both in homes and in schools. Children should be taught how to appreciate correction without receiving such punishment. Though some claim that it is a kind of punishment that is immediate and assists the child avoid repeating the same mistake, it may result to such damages as injury of body parts and in extreme cases resulting to physical impairment. Due to this, counseling and other types of punishment like issuing discouraging tasks such as slashing a farm are encouraged. They tire the child and cause them to avoid such a mistake again. Every time they are tempted to do the same mistake again, such consequences will discourage them.
