I am still horror-stricken over the death of 20 month old Imani Jennings.
As most of you know, the toddler was beaten to death by her mother's fifteen year old boyfriend after a potty training accident. Police say the child was beaten for nearly an hour with a metal rod and cable wires.
Relatives say they were growing concerned about how hard the toddler was being spanked. But they did not realize the punishment had become abusive until it was too late.
The tragic incident has stirred up water-cooler conversation as to whether or not spanking your child should be illegal.
Everyone I know was swatted on the backside at least once as a child. In fact, many child-development experts agree that limited and restrained physical punishment is not harmful and can actually be an effective and necessary teaching tool.
But tragedies such as the death of Imani Jennings raise a lot of questions as to whether or not spanking is a gateway to more severe corporal punishment.
As a child, I took a swat to the bottom on a few occasions. Mind you, it was very rare and always well earned.
But I think it's fair to say that I learned at a young age to respect authority and to pick my battles.
I grew up having tremendous respect for my elders and a clear understanding of both rules and consequences.
It sounds basic, but as Generation Y enters the workforce there are many, particularly boomers, who feel that this generation is undisciplined and brash; unable to respond to commands and orders without reasonable explanation and a courteous “please and thank you.”
I'm not saying that sparing the rod necessarily spoils the child. But I do think there is a huge difference between spanking a child and violently beating a toddler to death.
I think spankings shouldn't occur until the child is old enough to speak and should stop when the child enters kindergarten.
I also feel that physical discipline should be limited to the backside with an open hand and never administered on a hot temper.
This poor baby wasn't spanked. She was neglected and abused on a consistent basis.
If the relatives had concerns as to the growing severity of the spankings, they should've come forwarded before it was too late.
Estabrook's column appears Mondays and she can be reached at estabrookcarole@yahoo.com
Relatives say they were growing concerned about how hard the toddler was being spanked. But they did not realize the punishment had become abusive until it was too late.
The tragic incident has stirred up water-cooler conversation as to whether or not spanking your child should be illegal.
Everyone I know was swatted on the backside at least once as a child. In fact, many child-development experts agree that limited and restrained physical punishment is not harmful and can actually be an effective and necessary teaching tool.
But tragedies such as the death of Imani Jennings raise a lot of questions as to whether or not spanking is a gateway to more severe corporal punishment.
As a child, I took a swat to the bottom on a few occasions. Mind you, it was very rare and always well earned.
But I think it's fair to say that I learned at a young age to respect authority and to pick my battles.
I grew up having tremendous respect for my elders and a clear understanding of both rules and consequences.
It sounds basic, but as Generation Y enters the workforce there are many, particularly boomers, who feel that this generation is undisciplined and brash; unable to respond to commands and orders without reasonable explanation and a courteous “please and thank you.”
I'm not saying that sparing the rod necessarily spoils the child. But I do think there is a huge difference between spanking a child and violently beating a toddler to death.
I think spankings shouldn't occur until the child is old enough to speak and should stop when the child enters kindergarten.
I also feel that physical discipline should be limited to the backside with an open hand and never administered on a hot temper.
This poor baby wasn't spanked. She was neglected and abused on a consistent basis.
If the relatives had concerns as to the growing severity of the spankings, they should've come forwarded before it was too late.
Estabrook's column appears Mondays and she can be reached at estabrookcarole@yahoo.com
