We can debate the efficacy of violence against anyone all we like, but it’s pretty clear that committing violence against the very young is a bad idea.

In other news, spanking is remarkably ineffective at changing the behavior of baby lab rats.

Here’s the thing – most children don’t understand what it is about their behavior that is incurring the wrath of their parent(s). Children embrace the world and do whatever it is that they think is interesting, usually changing their mind every seven seconds. To sprinkle this exploration with periodic rhythmic beatings only aids their perception that the world is random and cruel.

I’m never the biggest fan of watching parental discipline in a grocery store or other public setting, but watching someone actually hit their child who is younger than five is one of the most shocking things I’ve actually witnessed. And yet many people think it’s just part of the show.

My favorite quote in this article, though, has to be this:
“Some remain unconvinced that parents should never spank their children. Robert Larzelere, associate professor of human development and family science at Oklahoma State University, conducted a meta-analysis of 26 studies on the subject, and found that, overall, spanking seemed more effective than 10 of 13 alternative disciplinary methods for getting a child to behave or do as asked.”

I just love that “more effective” is the rubric prescribed. I wonder what if the three more effective methods included threatening to kill the child or depriving them of sustenance. After all, we all know that implementing the death penalty for shoplifting would be “effective” at reducing incidents of the crime.

I’m willing to guess, though, that the #1 effective method, even in that study, was having a detailed conversation with the child about the nature of their misdeed. If only we started applying our more enlightened parenting methods to criminal “justice”.

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