By Aaron Greenberg

If you smacked or slapped an adult in the UK, it would be considered an assault, and you could be charged with such an offence.

And yet, if an adult does the same to a child in England and Northern Ireland, they can claim the defence of “reasonable punishment.” Not only is this entirely unreasonable, but it is also an absurd excuse for assaulting a child.

Children need to feel safe with parents and caregivers. They need to feel understood and heard. Physical punishment of any stripe doesn’t fulfil any of these needs. It actually does the complete opposite. And the harm runs more than skin deep.

Scientific evidence has shown how physical punishment can damage children’s health and development  and worsen their behaviour. Children who are violently disciplined are more likely to have trouble regulating their emotions and conflict solving. It can even cause long-lasting mental health problems like anxiety and depression.

It also teaches children that violence is acceptable, which, unsurprisingly, makes them more likely to be violent to their peers, parents, and eventually even their own children.........

© LBC