Matthew Davis quoted in Chicago Parent about physical, verbal discipline strategies

May 25, 2010

Matthew Davis was quoted in a Chicago Parent article, “Spanking is out, talking is in, for Midwest parents.” The article explores the findings of a C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health about parents’ most common discipline strategies.

According to the study, nine of 10 parents opt to talk to, instead of spank, their misbehaving children. Davis told Chicago Parent that he is encouraged by these findings, “Given recent research that indicates spanking can be harmful for kids' emotional development, I see it as a positive step that parents are more likely to use verbal discipline than physical discipline.” He went on to explain that some education is still necessary to help parents and other caretakers understand the best verbal discipline strategies for their children.