The question of spanking has made big news lately, from strangers taking discipline into their own hands to research suggesting it can lower a child's IQ.

BeWell's Alice Domar, Ph.D, explains why we should leave this type of parenting in the past.

Please Don't Spank Your Child

Like many of my generation, I remember being spanked as a child. What was particularly unfair was that the home of my childhood was an upside down house, in that the living space was on the second floor and my bedroom was on the first floor. So when my naughtiness factor overtaxed my mother's patience, she would yell, tell me to go to my room, and then swat my behind as I started going down the stairs. There was no way to obey the go-to-the-room command without getting spanked.

Sometime between my childhood and the time I became a mom, the attitude about spanking changed. Time-outs were in, and hitting was way out. I can guess that most of us have slipped a time or two (I can actually only remember spanking one of my kids once and I still feel awful about it.  I apologize to her every time the topic comes up but she thinks I am being ridiculous since she was three at the time and has no memory of the event. But I remember it all too well and feel really guilty). But new research supports the notion that spanking is just not an option when it comes to disciplining your child(ren). 

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