Is it time to outlaw smacking kids?

A high-profile Australasian doctors' group wants the smacking of children by parents made illegal.

Child health experts have called for the smacking of kids to be completely outlawed. Picture: Jackson Flindell Source: PerthNow

THINK smacking children is OK?

This video compilation from Sky News (above) of children being slapped, whacked and hit by adults makes for confronting viewing.

Child health experts in Australia have called for the smacking of kids and other physical punishments to be completely outlawed.

The medicos from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) want legal defences for the use of such discipline to be scrapped.

Children should be protected from assault, just as adults were, they claimed in a statement released today.

Associate Professor Susan Moloney, President of the RACP's Paediatrics & Child Health Division, also called for better support for parents and caregivers to educate them about the potential harmful effects of physical punishment and other violence on children.

"Research is increasingly showing that physical punishment may be harmful and children who receive physical punishment are at increased risk for a range of adverse outcomes both in childhood and as adults," Associate Professor Moloney said.

Do you believe smacking and other physical punishments should be banned? Have your say below.

"These include mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, aggressive or antisocial behaviour, substance use problems and abuse of their own children or spouse.

"While many children will not experience negative outcomes as a result of moderate or reasonable physical punishment, why put your child's future health and emotional wellbeing at risk?"

Professor Kim Oates, Fellow of the RACP's Paediatrics & Child Health Division and Emeritus Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Sydney, said there are more effective ways to discipline children.

"Parents and caregivers want to do the right thing for their child and should be supported to use more positive methods for managing a child's behaviour," Professor Oates said.

"Discipline is an essential part of good parenting, and effective discipline is about guiding a child so that they learn appropriate behaviour, and is grounded in a positive, supporting, loving relationship between parent and child."
The RACP claim studies have shown that despite the apparent immediate compliance children do not actually learn the desired behaviour. Instead, they learn to avoid the negative behaviour in the presence of the adult.

The RACP acknowledged it may take time to for its position on smacking to be accepted, but believes the process and the public discussion should be commenced.

While studies have shown that the majority of Australian parents still smack their children, support for the practice is declining, it claims.

In 2002, 75% of surveyed adults in Australia agreed with the statement that it is sometimes necessary to smack a naughty child - this decreased to 69% in 2006.

The RACP pointed out that in the 33 countries where the physical punishment of children is illegal, there is evidence that attitudes have shifted.

Countries that have banned the physical punishment of children have also seen other benefits including increased early identification of children at risk of abuse, and very low rates of mortality associated with child abuse, it added.

Associate Professor Susan Moloney said the RACP's paediatricians are committed to protecting children and have a unique perspective on the potential harms associated with the physical punishment of children and the potential for such practices to escalate.

"Many cases of physical abuse are the result of physical punishment that became more severe than intended and the difficulty with allowing the physical punishment of children is that the line can be easily blurred between abuse and 'reasonable' force or chastisement that is currently permitted in some states when disciplining a child," Associate Professor Moloney said.

The RACP's Paediatrics & Child Health Division is also launching a brochure, put together by doctors and parents, on how to manage a child's behaviour without smacking.