The Minnesota Vikings star running back and 2012 NFL Most Valuable Player Adrian Peterson is back in the news: a league-appointed arbitrator upheld his season-long suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Peterson had been indicted in September on a felony charge for having seriously injured his 4-year-old son while whipping him with a wooden switch.

Hopefully this will be an opportunity for Mr. Peterson to reflect and become a better parent. And hopefully it will also be an opportunity for reflection for the surprising number of parents who leapt to his defense.

Photo by Air Force Tech Sgt. Paul Santikko

The end of the year is traditionally a time we all look back on how we could become better people and make the world a better and safer place. For 2015, I’d like to propose we make an effort to end the practice of striking, hitting, slapping and beating children once and for all. Let’s replace it with more caring, humane, consistent consequences based on respect and communication, and not violence and anger.

As a pediatrician, I am not surprised corporal punishment engenders an emotional response by many parents. A recent poll by ABC NEWS shows 65% of Americans approve of spanking, a rate that has remained steady since 1990. This is despite research that links spanking to depression and a range of emotional behaviors, as well as demonstrating that it does not positively affect long-term behavior patterns.

So why do the majority of parents spank their children, or at least say they condone it? The response I most often hear often is that their parents spanked them “and they turned out okay.”  Actually, they turned out okay in spite of the fact that their parents hit them.

But that doesn’t answer the question why do they think it’s okay for an adult to hit a child when it’s not acceptable for an adult to hit someone their own size? Spanking is a euphemism for hitting. I chose not to model to my children that striking someone who disagrees with me is a proper mode of behavior. Apparently Mr. Peterson and 65% of Americans disagree with me.

Forty countries have laws against corporal punishment. The USA does not.

I had hoped the American Academy of Pediatrics would speak out at it’s annual meeting in October, against spanking as an acceptable means of discipline, given the attention it has attracted in the news.

While, disappointingly, they did not, their policy is to discourage spanking because they recognize that spanking can become severe and lead to child abuse. Yet parents are spanking their kids and many pediatricians are not talking about it. I know people argue there are “degrees” of spanking. So who is to ordain what degree is acceptable? Who can determine what level of physical pain a child feels that differentiates a spank, from a swat, from a slap? Who discerns what emotional trauma a child endures from being hit? Is an open hand acceptable, but a belt, switch or wooden spoon pushing the limit?

I encourage every pediatrician to discuss positive disciplinary alternatives to spanking and parents to consider less aggressive behavior as well. Fear doesn’t foster respect. When someone a child depends on purposely harms them, fear ensues. Possessing a power advantage doesn’t give a parent the right to employ it. Sparing the rod is not leniency. There are other consequences when consistently applied that show far more love and respect. Plus they are more effective.

And perhaps the question is not whether spanking works, but is it necessary? Considering there are better, more thoughtful and effective options for discipline and the fact your child is learning from your example, I believe the answer is unequivocally no.

Let’s foster a New Year’s Resolution to stop spanking our kids. Why add more aggression to an already violent society? Trust in respectful, consistent communication and consequences  in parental discipline for 2015 and for a lifetime.