National surveys show that over the past twenty years, more than 
90 percent of parents with small children admit to using one or 
more forms of corporal punishment.

Corporal punishment includes pinching, shaking, slapping, 
punching, a spanking, hitting, and beating children with an 
object such as a belt.

Studies have shown that using these methods can result in serious 
and tragic longer-term effects such as the children becoming 
abusive parents themselves.

So what can be done instead?

In the video Shaking, Hitting, Spanking: What to Do Instead 
parental techniques for gaining the cooperation and respect of 
children without resorting to corporal punishment or physical 
violence are discussed and demonstrated. 

The video makes the point that infants should NEVER be punished. 
Infants do not know the difference between right and wrong. 
Because their behavior is not intentional, they should never 
be punished.

Other alternatives to corporal punishment include;

1. PREVENTION - Probably the most effective alternative to 
hitting a child is prevention. By creating a "child proof" 
environment, where things are out of reach, children are less 
likely to get into trouble 

2. SHOW DISAPPOINTMENT - Let the child know that you are 
disappointed in his or her behavior.  Explain what your 
expectations are.  Make sure they understand right from wrong 
and what the rules are. Tell them what will happen if they 
continue to act in an inappropriate manner.

3. TAKE AWAY A PRIVILEGE - If a child misbehaves after being 
warned, a privilege such as watching television can be taken away 
or restricted. Other privileges include playing with a certain 
toy. Never withhold food.

4. GIVE A "TIME-OUT" - Sending a child to their room is not an 
appropriate "Time-Out." Rather select an area that is isolated 
from others such a certain chair in the corner of a room or 
hallway.. Make sure the child knows why he or she is being given 
a "Time Out" and how long it will last.

But by far the most loving alternative to corporal punishment is 
to develop a "non-hitting" attitude where corporal punishment 
is never an option. Of course, this takes good amount of self-
control, patience and an understanding that hitting a child is 
never a good idea. 

Kerby T. Alvy, Ph.D. is a nationally and internationally 
respected authority on parenting and parent training. He 
is the executive director and founder of the Center for the 
Improvement of Child Caring in Studio City, CA. The center 
has a variety of parenting books, videos and other products 
available on its Web site http://www.ciccparenting.org. 
On his blog, http://www.EducatedParenting.com, Dr. Alvy addresses 
a variety of parenting topics, issues, and trends. Dr. Alvy is 
also available as a consultant, speaker, and media guest. 
For more information, go to http://www.DrAlvy.com  
To sign-up for Dr. Alvy's  free Effective Parenting Newsletter, 
go to http://www.ciccparenting.org  and click on "Add Me".