What constitutes child abuse and neglect? There are horrendous child abuse stories and child abuse images that leave no doubt in your mind that what has been done to the kid in question is wrong and evil. However, your political and moral beliefs could have a bearing on what you think constitutes child abuse and neglect.
Very conservative people sometimes think that a smacked bottom is not child abuse but a fair punishment to give a child for doing something wrong, hence that old adage ’spare the rod and ruin the child.’ Liberals tend to disagree with this outlook and see spanking a child as wrong. In fact liberals on the far left often believe that it is wrong to even raise your voice to a child because it is considered psychological aggression.
Personally I am left of center on the subject of child abuse and neglect. I do not think it is ever necessary to put your hands on a child because I know for a fact that withholding privileges or administering a ‘time out’ to punish bad behavior are both effective deterrents, just as rewarding good actions is the best way to teach a child that he has done something good and make him want to repeat that behavior.
Nevertheless, if you have occasionally raised your voice at your child, I don’t think you should beat yourself up over it too much. While constantly shouting at a children is definitely wrong because it can make them nervous and fearful and it teaches them that yelling is a good way to reslove problems, even the best parents are only human. Sometimes a child’s behavior can anger you so much that you raise your voice without even being aware that you have done so. Therefore if there have been a few occasions when you have yelled at your kid, don’t be too hasty to judge yourself guilty of child abuse and neglect, but do make a sincere effort not to make a habit of it.