International laws and guidelines issued by organizations dedicated to child welfare strongly discourage the physical punishment of children. Yet, in reality, many adults continue to use it. Who hits children? Is it their parents, teachers at school, older siblings, or even other children in the neighborhood? And what psychological effects does this aggression have on a child's body, freedom, dignity, and self-esteem?

Noura, 6 years old:
"When I misbehave at home, my dad hits me or takes away things I love. If I want to escape his punishment, I hide in my bed so he thinks I'm asleep."

Sarah, 8 years old:
"My aunt hits me because she lives with us and takes care of me. She loves me, but when she's tired and can't handle my mischief, she hits me to make me calm down."

Jumana, 7 years old:
"My older brother hits me. He says he wants me to become a good student. He hits me the most when he helps me with my homework."

From the innocent words of these children, we can clearly see how deeply physical punishment affects them. Healthy child-rearing rests on three essential pillars: the child, the family, and the school. When these three work together in harmony, the goal of raising a well-balanced, emotionally healthy individual is much more likely to be achieved, preventing the child from losing their sense of identity and self-worth.

Educator Raymond Ghanem

What Does a Child Fear More: Punishment at School or Punishment at Home?

A child does not fear punishment itself as much as they fear the person administering it—someone who usually holds great importance in the child's life. When a loving and trusting relationship exists between the child and their parents or teacher, even a simple look of disappointment can have a stronger impact than physical punishment.

What Is the Future of a Child Who Is Frequently Hit?

Violence breeds violence. By using physical punishment, adults introduce children into a cycle of aggression, making them victims of that cycle.

Psychological punishment can sometimes be even more painful than physical punishment, particularly when it causes a child to question the love of those closest to them. Telling a child, "I don't love you anymore," is especially harmful during the early school years. Physical punishment at this stage may create feelings of injustice, leading the child to hate school, withdraw socially, become aggressive, or develop emotional problems that negatively affect their academic future.

Although most schools today prohibit corporal punishment, many children continue to experience violence at home. Some families even teach children to lie about their injuries, instructing them not to admit they were beaten. Teachers often notice bruises or marks on children. When questioned, the children claim they fell or were scratched by a sibling. Through patient conversations, educators sometimes discover the truth.

These cases reveal a tragic contradiction: parents first suppress their children through violence, then teach them to lie about it, while simultaneously punishing them whenever they lie.

This raises an important question: Why do some parents allow their children to do almost anything when they are very young, only to begin beating them as they grow older?

Parents need to learn how to raise children by understanding their psychology and recognizing signs of emotional suffering. Weekly meetings with parents often focus on encouraging them to stop using physical punishment, since children frequently become scapegoats for family conflicts or the psychological struggles of adults.

The Psychological Perspective

How does psychology explain the harmful effects of hitting children? And what form of discipline is considered most appropriate at home or at school?

Psychology rejects physical punishment in both the home and the school. Only in extremely rare situations do some specialists suggest that discipline should be limited to the mildest possible corrective action, intended only to teach the difference between right and wrong.

Children inevitably make mistakes. If they become accustomed to being hit, punishment gradually loses its effectiveness. They may continue misbehaving because they already know what to expect. Later in life, many repeat the same methods with their own children.

This is how oppression is passed from one generation to another in families where violence is considered the foundation of discipline.

Physical punishment damages a child's self-confidence and weakens their personality. As a result, children often defend themselves by becoming aggressive toward others, including members of their own family.

This does not mean children should never be disciplined. Rather, discipline should avoid physical punishment and instead rely on communication, understanding, and mutual respect. Parents should also avoid "delayed punishment," such as threatening the child and waiting for the father to return home to carry it out.

In many cases, punishment is postponed from morning until evening, by which time the child has forgotten what they did wrong and no longer understands why they are being punished. Worse still, they may continue misbehaving because they already expect punishment anyway.

For this reason, immediate correction through calm discussion is far more effective. Children are capable of understanding, although their levels of comprehension vary. Patience is essential, along with choosing consequences that are meaningful, such as temporarily taking away something the child enjoys.

At the same time, parents should never withdraw their love. A mother should never tell her child, "I don't love you anymore." This is a serious parenting mistake. Instead, she might say, "I love you, but what you did upset me, and I don't want to talk to you right now."

This form of discipline can be very effective because few things affect a child more deeply than temporary emotional distance from a loving parent. Even remaining silent for half an hour can help the child reflect on their behavior while still feeling secure in their parent's love.

Does the Psychological Impact of Physical Punishment Change as Children Grow Older?

Children are affected by physical punishment at every stage of development. The experience may leave deep resentment that surfaces later in life, or it may remain a painful memory whose lasting effects become apparent only in adulthood.

Some Mothers Believe Their Children Only Respond After Being Hit. What Is Your Opinion?

This belief usually develops because physical punishment has become the family's habitual method of discipline. However, the child's response is not based on understanding or conviction—it is simply an automatic reaction to fear.

Children should instead be taught through conversation, encouragement, and positive reinforcement. Even if progress is slow, patience and continuous dialogue eventually lead to improvement. Physical punishment, on the other hand, often leaves children feeling hopeless, causing them to think, "This is just who I am, and I'll never become any better."