Session 5

Unit Five: Discipline vs. Punishment

BCFS Policies on Discipline

Every family has their own customs, rules, and ways of doing things, and generally this is accepted and even welcomed by BCFS. However, there are exceptions, and one of them is the issue of discipline.

Like many other state child welfare agencies, the Bureau of Children and Family Services (BCFS) prohibits the use of corporal punishment of children in foster care. ( *Note that licensing requirements stipulate that licensed foster parents may not use corporal punishment on any children in the home while a foster child is in placement including their birth or adopted children.)

Corporal punishment means physical punishment — any punishment “on the body,” such as spanking. BCFS also prohibits other forms of punishment such as verbal abuse or keeping food from a child.

Spanking is a commonly used form of corporal punishment. Even parents who do not spank their children would agree that spanking is not abusive when used in a reasonable fashion, but whether or not the use of spanking furthers the goals of effective discipline is questionable.

Aside from the fact that it is against regulations, the implications of spanking and other forms of corporal punishment for children with a history of physical and/or sexual abuse are different from those for children who have been raised in loving, consistent homes.

Just as parents who have more than one child approach discipline with each child a little differently- according to the child's age, temperament and needs- it is necessary to consider the special needs of abused children in making decisions about appropriate discipline for them.

Abused children frequently have an atypical reaction to touch. They may not feel pain. In that case, the punishment may have no effect, and the parent may get carried away due to the child's lack of response. Or, the child may be hypersensitive to any touch at all.

An important part of healing for the physically and sexually abused child is learning that he or she can have control over his or her own body. It is possible to say “no” to touch that feels uncomfortable. The use of corporal punishment gets in the way of this healing. It is particularly important to model alternatives to violence for children raised in violent families.