What’s the difference between punishment and abuse?
Parents need to be able to discipline their children, but some behaviors are considered unacceptable. It is justifiable and not a crime for a parent, guardian, or other person entrusted with the care of a child to use reasonable and appropriate physical force upon the child to the extent that it is reasonably necessary and appropriate to maintain discipline or to promote the welfare of the child. Physical punishment should be restricted to those parts of the body that will not put a child’s health in danger. Even then, if the punishment exceeds certain limits, it could be considered abuse. Examples of excessive punishment would be bruising or leaving marks. The intent should be to make the child understand a wrong behavior, not instill unreasonable fear.
