[Question_Assumptions]

They trotted out a lot of research in Canada when they proposed a law banning spanking, which never passed as far as I know. They net conclusion of the research is that you can raise a good kid either through verbal discipline or spanking and that it's pretty much six one way and a half-dozen the other so long as the physical discipline isn't abuse, isn't done to a child younger than two (younger infants don't understand why they are being hit), and isn't done to children past their early teens (when it can trigger control and power issues).

Do some web searches on spaning and Canada (I'd suggest adding a "-sex" qualifier to any Google searches if you wnat useful results) if you want more info.

[Trinity_Tx]

"They net conclusion of the research is that you can raise a good kid either through verbal discipline or spanking and that it's pretty much six one way and a half-dozen the other

so long as
-the physical discipline isn't abuse,
-isn't done to a child younger than two (younger infants don't understand why they are being hit), and
-isn't done to children past their early teens (when it can trigger control and power issues).

And that makes so much sense.

I think you can cause just as much, if not more, damage by crossing the line verbally as you can crossing it physically.

The main reason I choose non-physical punishment is because I find more room for creativity to devise punishments or rewards that are directly relevant to the specific behavior. And it has worked better for my kids than physical punishment worked on us for my parents.

But if I had a big litter, I'd likely spank more... and if I used it wisely, I could still be less abusive than others who didn't.

Parents tongues can ruin a kid too.