The Case Against Spanking: How to Discipline Your Child Without Hitting

These books examine child discipline, with spanking presented as an effective or ineffective method (depending on the viewpoint). A father and a family therapist for 30 years, Hyman (psychology, Temple Univ.) bases his discipline models on research and clinical observations. He offers parents a number of alternative strategies to physical punishment, including understanding child psychology, systemetizing rewards and punishments, and defusing anger in both parent and child. In contrast, Pritchett, a mother and stepmother, offers a discipline plan based on spanking as the only effective deterrent in training children to be obedient and well behaved. Her book begins with a description of spanking (two to five hard whacks on the bottom with a paddle followed by loving admonition). Spanking is deemed the appropriate parental response to all children for breaking family or house rules, defiance, lying, cheating, stealing, bad language, and any form of disrespect or disobedience. Pritchett cites the Bible as her reference. Hyman is a good addition to most public library parenting collections, but while one would like to present an opposing viewpoint, Pritchett, whose advice is neither comprehensive nor based on current research, cannot be recommended.?Kay L. Brodie, Chesapeake Coll., Wye Mills., Md.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

?A `must-read' book about the spanking controversy that should beof interest to parents, parent educators, and mental healthprofessionals.? --Charles E. Schaefer, coauthor of How to Talk toYour Kids About Really Important Things

"A good addition to most public library parentingcollections."

"In this informative text, Hyman shores up his passion forchildren's rights with logic and research."

"[Hyman] presents a convincing arguement against spanking in thehome and includes a Parent Punitive Quiz by which readers canmeasure their attitudes toward punishment."

Irwin Hyman, an expert in the field of home and school discipline, explains in passionate and compelling style why spanking or hitting children is abusive, destructive, and counterproductive. As an antidote he offers parents and teachers constructive methods of healthy discipline they can use to raise happy and emotionally stable children.The Case Against Spanking is written for the `less than perfect' parent or teacher who wants to learn how to discipline children without using corporal punishment. The author documents the long-term negative effects of spanking?how it brutalizes kids and creates violent adults?and gives common sense advice on alternative methods for dealing with such everyday situations as what to do when your toddler becomes fussy in the grocery store or how to react if your child runs into the street.

Irwin Hyman, an expert in the field of home and school discipline, explains in a passionate and compelling style why spanking or hitting children is abusive, destructive, and counterproductive. As an antidote he offers parents and teachers constructive methods of healthy discipline they can use to raise happy and emotionally stable children.The Case Against Spanking is written for the `less than perfect' parent or teacher who wants to learn how to discipline children without using corporal punishment. The author documents the long-term negative effects of spanking?how it brutalizes kids and creates violent adults?and gives common sense advice on alternative methods for dealing with such everyday situations as what to do when your toddler becomes fussy in the grocery store or how to react if your child runs into the street. .

IRWIN A. HYMAN is director of the National Center for the Study of Corporal Punishment and Alternatives in the Schools and professor of school psychology at Temple University. He has made numerous appearance on national television shows such as Oprah, Good Morning American and the Today show.