67% Amdavadi parents spank their kids: Study

Spanking children may have been prohibited in over 50 countries, but it is very much prevalent in Indian society. A recent country-wide study has shown that 67 per cent of Amdavadi parents use this method to discipline their wards.

The survey conducted by the First Moms Club along with the Early Childhood Association (ECA) highlighted that 77.5 per cent parents across the country resort to hitting children. Spanking is defined as hitting a child on the buttocks with an open hand.

A total of 1,690 parents from Ahmedabad took part in the survey. More of than fathers, it was mothers who raised their hands. In 72 percent of the time, their partners disapproved of this, according to the findings. Nearly one-fifth of the respondents said spanking was a daily occurrence.

ECA officials and members of First Moms Club said the aim of the survey was not to make parents feel embarrassed, but to bring the issue in the open so that parents adopt trust-based parenting rather than force based parenting. They are not the ones struggling with this, conveyed the survey.

Nearly 80 per cent of those who were surveyed from Ahmedabad never sought any intervention for their act, while 95 per cent of them wanted to stop spanking, revealed the survey.

ECA president Swati Popat Vats said it all started with ECA and First Moms Club initiating a survey where they found 77 per cent of parents interviewed admitted to spanking their children. In 2012, 68 per cent of parents admitted to spanking, she said.

"In 2015, it increased up to 72 per cent and in 2018, it was 77 per cent. We realised that the situation is worrisome as these are educated, new-age mothers but with old parenting styles. More than 69 per cent of those who spank their kids want to stop spanking but do not know how to stop," Vats said.

With partnership and support of various organizations and schools in each city, Vats said, ECA and the Club have started the #Iwillnot campaign against spanking. "The aim of this campaign is to make parents aware of the negative effects of spanking, of supporting them to understand and practice mindful parenting and to bring down the number of parents that spank."