The Bible is full of disciplining our kids and sometimes that means spanking them. It does not mean abusing them and that is where people get confused.
Proverbs 13:24 New International Version (NIV)
24 Whoever spares the rod hates their children,
but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.
Hebrews 12:11 New International Version (NIV)
11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Proverbs 23:13-15 New International Version (NIV)
13 Do not withhold discipline from a child;
if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.
14 Punish them with the rod
and save them from death.
Parents these days have been misled to think that by spanking them, that they are hurting their self-esteem or taking away their identity or are teaching them that the only way to solve conflict is through violent means. They have also been misled to think kids are adults and can reason like adults. Finally, parents have been taught to be their kids best friend. Really?
Let’s see, since parents stopped being parents and stopped spanking their kids and started using timeouts, the amount of violence and crime has gone up. Hmm, it makes you stop and wonder. Furthermore, if they are not taught right from wrong and disciplined as such now, then eventually society will teach them.
Parents, I will completely and utterly disagree with psychologist. Spanking your kids does not hurt them as long as it is not abuse and the spanking is done out of love to help your kids grow. If you love your kids, you will correct them before it gets to be too late.