Raising Good Kids Without Hitting www.stophitting.com

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Newsletter Article

SpankOut Day USA ~ April 30th
Raising Good Kids Without Hitting

All caregivers of children are urged to recognize SpankOut Day USA by not using corporal punishment on children and by instituting positive discipline methods. EPOCH-USA (End Physical Punishment of Children) sponsors SpankOut Day to advocate the use of child-rearing practices that help develop caring, responsible, self-disciplined adults.

Corporal punishment of children is unsupported by research, sometimes leads to injury, alienates caregivers and children, and contributes to the cycle of physical violence by teaching it is acceptable to hit people who are weaker and smaller.

Ten Guidelines for Raising a Well-Behaved Child

1. Whenever possible, teach rather than punish. The goal of discipline is to teach children acceptable behavior. Hitting children does not teach acceptable behavior, it teaches children that "might makes right" and hitting is a way to solve problems.
2. View children's misbehavior as a mistake in judgment. It will be easier to think of ways to teach more acceptable behavior.
3. Whenever possible, make consequences relate to misbehavior. If a child hurts someone's feelings, the child should apologize. It the child makes a mess, he/she should clean it up.
4. Have behavior rules but make sure they are few in number, reasonable, and appropriate to the child's age and development.
5. Make sure that consequences for misbehavior are reasonable and clear.
6. Don't argue or nag children about rules. If a rule is broken, remind the child of the rule and the consequence for not following the rule. When you give a command, speak in a firm voice and repeat the command only twice.
7. If your child has many behaviors which concern you, don't try to change all of them at once. Choose one behavior of concern. Explain why the behavior is a problem. Provide consequences for misbehavior and praise the opposite behavior when your child demonstrates it.
8. Distract infants and toddlers when they are doing something you don't like or remove them from the situation. Infants and toddlers do not understand right and wrong and should not be hit or shaken.
9. Use good manners when talking to children about their behavior. Be sure to use "I'm sorry," "May I?" and "Excuse me" when they are appropriate. Be a good model for your children in your speech and actions.
10. Catch your child being good! Your praise or hug will increase appropriate behavior.

For more information about SpankOut Day USA or resources for parents and caregivers, visit www.stophitting.com.