Corporal punishment is the intentional use of physical force to cause bodily pain or discomfort as a penalty for unacceptable behavior. Corporal punishment includes any action that produces discomfort, such as:. Corporal punishment is not an effective method of managing behavior. It does not teach a child how to act properly. At best, corporal punishment has only a temporary effect on behavior. And it may even make it worse. Not only does it reinforce some problem behavior, but also it teaches a child that physical force is the way to resolve conflict.
Corporal punishment can also have emotional and psychological effects, both short- and long-term, such as:. There are lots of other ways to discipline your child. Effective alternatives to corporal punishment depend on the age of your child and include:. Research has shown that positive reinforcement is more effective than corporal punishment.
Catch your child doing something right and praise your child. Don't wait until your child has done something wrong to notice their behavior. Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff Clinical Review Board All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
Clinical Review Board All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
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