One reason parents spank is that they are not aware of other effective strategies for changing children's undesirable behavior.

To be effective, discipline that is appropriate for a child's age should be used. Ineffective methods are often based on unrealistic expectations about what children are capable of learning. Parents may find the following age-appropriate discipline suggestions useful alternatives to spanking.

Suggestions for parents of toddlers:

Disciplining toddlers requires a tremendous investment of time, energy, and patience, so it is important to find effective and appropriate techniques. For example, it will not be effective to tell toddlers not to play with items that are dangerous, such as the stove, because they do not understand the consequences . Spanking, however, will not clarify the consequences either. Instead, children may learn from spanking that "I'm a bad person," rather than "I did a bad thing." You must use discipline methods consistently or your child will learn that you are not serious.
Here are some ideas for alternatives to spanking:

1. Toddler-proof your home. Make sure the environment is safe by removing any harmful dangerous objects. It is natural for toddlers to want to explore their environment. Always supervise toddlers; it is unrealistic to expect a toddler to play safely without adult supervision for more than a few minutes. If your toddler is about to touch something dangerous, grasp his hand instead of slapping.
2. Avoid direct clashes with toddlers, which will only make both of you angry and frustrated. Instead, try a diversion or distraction . Many problem situations can be eased with something funny or unexpected, such as tickling a mildly upset child .
3. Use your size and strength to eliminate situations. Simply lift a child out of the bath or carry a child who refuses to walk.
4. If you start to deliver a slap, divert it to your knee or a table. This sound will interrupt the behavior without hitting the child.
5. If you feel your temper flaring, leave the room for a few minutes, ensuring your toddler is in a safe place such as a play pen or crib.

Author: Ramsburg, Dawn
Source: ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education Urbana IL.

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