Smacked Kids are More Successful

Smacked Kids More Successful, smacked children happier, go to uni more

A new US study reveals that children smacked until 6 yrs old were more successful at school, in later life and were generally more optimistic than those never smacked.

They were also more likely to volunteer and to attend university.

This flies in the face of claims by children’s rights campaigners in Britain who have – as yet unsuccessfully – struggled to ban all smacking by British parents.  The 2004 Children’s Act provides that ‘reasonable chastisement’ can be used, provided it does not leave a mark or a bruise.

Prof. Marjorie Gunnoe of Calvin College, Michigan, said her study revealed there was insufficient evidence to deny parents the freedom to decide how to punish their own children.

She said: “The claims made for not spanking children fail to hold up.  I think of spanking as a dangerous tool, but there are times when there is a job big enough for a dangerous tool. You just don’t use it for all your jobs.”

Researchers surveyed 179 teenagers on how often they were smacked as children and how old they were when they were last spanked. Their answers were compared with info they gave about a range of  behaviours which could be affected by smacking, including negatives such as anti-social behaviour, early sexual activity, violence and depression, as well as positives such as academic success and ambitions.

Results

Those who were smacked till the age of 6 performed better in most positive categories and no worse in the negatives than those never smacked.  Those smacked from 7 to 11 also enjoyed more success at school but fared less well on some negative measures e.g. getting involved in fights.  Teens who said they were still being smacked scored worst  across all categories.

Have YOUR Say

Do you think smacking is an abuse of a child's human rights or an acceptable way to establish firm boundaries?  Leave a comment below.