Spanking with a Wooden Spoon is Not Child Abuse, Court Rules

Michael Krasny

Oct 10, 2013 at

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A Santa Clara County woman who spanked her child with a wooden spoon did not commit child abuse, a state court ruled this week. The San Jose appeals court found that the spanking fell within the scope of “reasonable parental discipline.” What is the line between spanking and child abuse? And is spanking ever effective as a disciplinary tool? We discuss the court’s ruling and the latest research on parental discipline.

More: Yale Parenting Center

Guests:

Bob Egelko, reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, covering state and federal courts

Dr. Alan Kazdin, professor of psychology and child psychiatry at Yale University and author of "The Everyday Parenting Toolkit: The Kazdin Method for Easy, Step-by-Step, Lasting Change for You and Your Child"

Dr. Marjorie Gunnoe, professor of psychology and child development at Calvin College

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