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A recent study conducted by researchers at University College London (UCL) suggests that using smacking as a form of discipline on children may negatively impact their academic performance and increase the likelihood of risky behaviors during adolescence. The study examined a cohort of 19,000 children born in the UK between 2000 and 2002, tracking their experiences of physical punishment at ages three, five, and seven. The research team observed that smacking did not benefit children in any way and advocated for England and Northern Ireland to follow Scotland and Wales by banning the practice entirely.
The Department for Education in England responded by stating there are no current plans to change the law regarding smacking, although it reaffirmed that child safety and wellbeing remain government priorities. Associate Professor Anja Heilmann, who led the research, highlighted that smacking “does not help children and all the effects that we did find were in the direction of a harmful outcome.” One component of the study involved analyzing data from 7,559 GCSE students, linking their results to the National Pupil Database. The findings indicated that children who had experienced smacking were 5.7 percentage points more likely to fail achieving five GCSE passes at grades A*-C, including in English and Maths.
Beyond academic indicators, the study also revealed behavioral concerns; 14-year-olds who had been physically punished in their early years showed a 33% increased tendency to partake in risky activities such as bullying. Despite these findings, Heilmann acknowledged the observational nature of the study, noting that the data were drawn from family questionnaires and that other influencing factors over the years could not be ruled out as contributors to the outcomes observed. She expressed hope that “smacking stops in the UK so children have the same protection from physical assault that adults have.”
Legal approaches to smacking vary across the UK. Scotland was the pioneer by outlawing physical punishment of children under 16 in 2020, with Wales following in 2022. However, smacking remains lawful in England and Northern Ireland, continuing to spark debate. Supporters of a ban argue it would provide children with legal protection against assault, while opponents worry it might criminalize parents. Amy Woods, founder of Baby College in Salford, expressed surprise that a ban is not yet in place in England, emphasizing that children need “warmth, responsive relationships and play” rather than violence. Similarly, a mother named Sarah shared her belief that smacking sets a poor example, saying: “If they do something wrong, like hit someone, and you smack them back it doesn’t really reinforce the message of ‘this isn’t ok’.”
Not all experts agree completely with the study’s implications. Professor Ellie Lee, a family and parenting researcher at the University of Kent and a supporter of the Be Reasonable England campaign which defends smacking, described the UCL findings as “plausible” but cautioned against seeking simple explanations for complex child development issues. She argued that setting boundaries supported by consequences remains essential for children to learn social rules and moral behavior. The UCL research further noted that around one in five ten-year-olds had experienced physical punishment by 2021, and mothers with higher educational attainment were less likely to use smacking. The Northern Ireland executive was approached for comment but had yet to respond
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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