Dear Hajime,
You make a lot of sense. In 2002 when I wrote my first book on the concept of Child Abuse, I had a similar view - positive and negative reinforcement for children to replace corporal punishment. This was my candid view until I met a woman who asked me a simple question - Are you married, do you have children? When my answers were NO, she advised me to wait until I had my own children.
With three children now and the oldest 18 years, I have a different view. Positive and Negative reinforcement are good. Learning and Discussion are also good. But there is also a place for corporal punishment.
What is key is the nature of the punishment and the attitude of the parents or caregiver when giving it.
We need to make the corporate punishment corrective rather than punitive or abusive.
Obinna
Anti Child Abuse Society of Africa (ACASA), Nigeria
CHIFA profile: Obinna O E Oleribe is Chief Executive Officer|E&F Management Care Centre, Abuja, Nigeria. Skype: Obinna. obinna.oleribe AT expertmanagers.org
Twitter: @OleribeO www.expertmanagers.org
