International Spank Out Day observed in Lima - Hometownstations.com-WLIO- Lima, OH News Weather Sports

International Spank Out Day observed in Lima

For Misty Clark, mother of Charlie Jean Farler, Saturday's International Spank Out Day gave her a positive activity to do with her daughter.

Spank Out Day is designed give kids some fun things to do and at the same time educate parents as to why spanking is not a good way to discipline their child.

"As far as I'm concerned spanking a child is an agression for most adults and most parents to leave on their children and I don't want to instill that on my daughter" said Clark.

Clark says she has other ways of disciplining Charlie.

"She has a time out chair that she sits in when she misbehaves and we talk about what she did wrong," added Clark.

 Donna Dickman Director for the Partnership for Violence Free Families says research shows spanking doesn't work..

Dickman says the way to discipline a child varies with the age of that child.

"We know children under the age of three, they don't have the brain development yet to do that STOP button. They don't have that control. So we as adults have to make sure they're safe, whether we're putting them in front of glass ornaments or not, it's our job to keep those kids safe. When we look at kids that are older we're looking at making sure we get their attention by taking something away from them perhaps that they like. Time out. There's ways of getting their attention but still keep going back to what we're teaching."

The Partnership for Violence Free Families is hosting parenting classes beginning May 2nd. For more information call 419-549-8530.