Slapping children ‘has long-lasting negative effects’

Slapping is not an effective way to alter children’s behaviour, and has long-lasting negative effects, a leading paediatrician has warned.

Professor Alf Nicholson, a consultant paediatrician at Temple St Children’s Hospital, said recent evidence “shows a very clear link” between slapping and “several poor adult outcomes including suicide attempts, moderate to heavy drinking and drug use”.