Creative Child January 2019 | Seite 20

editor’s choice The AAP Takes a Stance Against Spanking BY: Rebecca Eanes The spanking debate rages on, except it’s not much of a debate anymore. The research is clear – spanking is harmful to child development. The American Academy of Pediatrics has taken a stand against corporal punishment, summarizing new evidence published in the last 20 years. It should be noted that the AAP defines corporal punishment as the “non- injurious, open handed hitting with the intention of modifying child behavior.” 19