The Hancock County Children’s Council is pleased to announce a new workshop for parents looking to create a nurturing environment and developing parenting practices of providing positive, non-violent discipline to their children. This FREE “Alternatives to Spanking” workshop with Linda Levesque will be held on Saturday, May 2nd, 2009, 9:30am to 11:30am, at Downeast Health Services, 52 Christian Ridge Road, Ellsworth. As space is limited, please call Candy Eaton at 667-5304 ext. 261 to register for this FREE event.

Hitting children in America has been a child-rearing practice for as long as anyone cares to remember. For many parents, hitting is the only way they know to punish children for misbehaving. Studies prove the practice of spanking children is neither a good thing nor does it work to stop misbehavior. Spanking focuses on what not to do, rather than teaches children appropriate behavior that is consistently reinforced in a positive manner.

In the United States, spanking as punishment has shown a long-term decline. In the 1950's, ninety-nine percent of parents supported the use of corporal punishment of children. In recent years that number has fallen. Surveys generally report about fifty percent of parents supporting its use. Studies show that a majority of parents who use corporal punishment feel badly about it and don't think it works to improve behavior.

Discipline is an important concept in the lives of all human beings. Discipline means standards, expectations, rules, morals and values. It does not mean spanking, hitting, threatening or belittling. The goal of discipline is to create an orderly, predictable, stable, and fun world to enjoy and grow healthy. Discipline is both the guidance the parents provide their children and the desire of children to follow the directions the parents set forth.

You will learn how to establish age appropriate family rules, give your children realistic choices and consequences and learn to give you and your child time to transition from one activity to another. The philosophy of Nurturing Parenting emphasizes the importance of raising children in a warm, trusting and caring household. To nurture is to nourish, to nurse and to promote the positive growth of children’s physical, emotional, social and spiritual well-being.

There is extensive research linking healthy child development to effective parenting. Children thrive when parents provide not only affection, but also respectful communication and listening, consistent rules and expectations, and safe opportunities that promote independence. Successful parenting fosters psychological adjustment, helps children succeed in school, encourages curiosity about the world, and motivates children to achieve. Parenting skills cannot be static; as children grow and mature, parents need to change the way they respond to their children’s needs. In addition, parenting styles need to be adjusted for each child’s individual temperament and unique circumstances.[i]

The Maine Children’s Trust has generously contributed to the support of this workshop. Visit the Trust’s website at www.mechildrenstrust.org or call 207-623-5120 for more information. National Spank-Out Day is recognized on April 30th to provide wide visibility to the need to stop hitting children.

Downeast Health Services Inc provides for the health, safety, and well-being of children and their families in Downeast Maine through 10 core program services areas. Please contact the Hancock County Children’s Council to learn about other parenting classes, support groups and workshops available in your community or visit our Parent Resource Library at 52 Christian Ridge Road, Ellsworth. You may visit our website at www.downeasthealth.org for additional information on child safety and family educational resources available or contact Candy Eaton at 667-5304 ext. 261 or email children@downeasthealth.org. 

[i] Promoting Healthy Families in Your Community, 2007, page 19