Children not for beating

It is important that parents are aware that hitting children causes harm, says Children's Commissioner Cindy Kiro.

She was speaking at Parliament last night at the launch of a new booklet and CD, Children are Unbeatable - 7 Very Good Reasons Not To Hit Children.

The booklet and the CD, written by family counsellor Rhonda Pritchard, were wonderful resources to help people better understand the issues surrounding physical punishment and why behaviour change was needed towards more positive treatment of children, Dr Kiro said.

"Physical punishment is a long-held tradition in our society and one practised across all cultures within it. It disadvantages children from all ethnic groups. It's time to respond to the evidence by changing our behaviour."

Dr Kiro said Children are Unbeatable was an educational tool that would help people understand the risks associated with hitting children and the positive parenting strategies that were most effective in disciplining children.

Unicef New Zealand advocacy manager Beth Wood welcomed the book and the CD as a contribution to public understanding about the dangers in using physical punishment, including the link between hitting and child abuse.

- NZPA