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SUPPORTS ANTI-PALO BILL

Psychiatrist condemns spanking, suggests other ways to discipline children


There are better ways to discipline a child other than spanking, a psychiatrist said on Wednesday.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Dr. Babes Manalo commended the Anti-Palo Bill that prohibits spanking as child punishment. 

“Mabuti,” Manalo said of the Anti-Palo Bill or Senate Bill No. 1477 titled Positive Discipline of Children Act of 2017. The said measure, approved on third and final reading on October 8, prohibits corporal punishment against children below 18 years old and promotes positive and non-violent discipline of children.

“Madami namang ibang alternatives ang puwede nating gawin para madisiplina ang mga bata. Turuan natin sila. Marami namang modalities at strategies ang puwede nating i-inculcate sa ating mga anak,” she said.

Manalo said inflicting physical pain could cause severe psychological damage on children.

She suggested other measures parents can adopt instead such as taking away some of their children's privileges and giving them extra duties.

“Take away mo 'yung electronics nila for 24 hours, mas masakit 'yun. Mas maganda na bigyan natin ng extra duty na ginagawa sa bahay to help make amends and give them responsibility” she said.

Parents should start early on implementing their rules for children to easily follow, Manalo added.

She also said spanking is not as effective as time out—standing or sitting in a corner for a number of minutes—to instill discipline in children.

Spanking, she said, can actually create more problems and result in lower intelligent quotient, slow brain development and aggression.

Manalo pointed out that spanking may make children obey, but only for the short term.

“Ang spanking can actually cause immediate compliance, so susunod 'yung bata, matatakot. But this is a short time lang,” she said.

“Now, kung short-term time lang 'yan, magiging ineffective, 'yung paulit-ulit lang ang ginagawa nila,” she added. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News

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