2026 study shows 20% of Gen Z & Millennials spank their kids

[markalan]

About 20 per cent of Canadian Generation Z and Millennial parents spank their children according to a recently published University of Manitoba study (reported in UModay, June 12, 2026).

About 20 per cent of Canadian Generation Z and Millennial parents still spank their kids, UM study finds

Spanking remains legal despite being an outdated and controversial form of disciplining children.

umtoday.ca

This figure does not surprise me but it does seem to be out of sync with a recently conducted poll here on "Christianity Board" which showed that 2/3 of respondents say it is ok to use corporal punishment to discipline children.

Is it ok for parents to use corporal punishment to discipline their children?

Corporal punishment defenition The use of physical force to discipline children A child doesn't know where the boundaries are. It is natural for them to push the boundaries to learn where they sit. That's why kids are naughty and that's why parents often have to discipline them in some way or...

www.christianityboard.com

Is this a subject that divides liberal and conservative Christians ... or do you think it is simply a matter of parenting style?

 

[Armour of God]

About 20 per cent of Canadian Generation Z and Millennial parents spank their children according to a recently published University of Manitoba study (reported in UModay, June 12, 2026).

About 20 per cent of Canadian Generation Z and Millennial parents still spank their kids, UM study finds

Spanking remains legal despite being an outdated and controversial form of disciplining children.

umtoday.ca

This figure does not surprise me but it does seem to be out of sync with a recently conducted poll here on "Christianity Board" which showed that 2/3 of respondents say it is ok to use corporal punishment to discipline children.

Is it ok for parents to use corporal punishment to discipline their children?

Corporal punishment defenition The use of physical force to discipline children A child doesn't know where the boundaries are. It is natural for them to push the boundaries to learn where they sit. That's why kids are naughty and that's why parents often have to discipline them in some way or...

www.christianityboard.com

Is this a subject that divides liberal and conservative Christians ... or do you think it is simply a matter of parenting style?

Hey that was my thread. LoL.
I think it's a matter of parenting style.
I started that thread thinking it was OK to spank your child. Then I changed my mind to it's not ok. In the end I changed my mind again and thought that it's ok under certain circumstances.

 

[markalan]

Hey that was my thread. LoL.
I think it's a matter of parenting style.
I started that thread thinking it was OK to spank your child. Then I changed my mind to it's not ok. In the end I changed my mind again and thought that it's ok under certain circumstances.

The result of your poll is very interesting with 2/3 in favour of corporal punishment.

"OK under certain circumstances" seems like the most commonsense approach to me too ... and more aligned with Biblical principles. Those who are opposed are more likely to put their trust in psychological sources rather than Scripture.,

I think it is significant that the study mentioned in the OP is based on self report so the figure of 20% might easily be under reporting because those who oppose spanking are prone to use deprecatory arguments aimed to instill guilt in parents, and also likely to censor alternative views.

 

[markalan]

According to Wikipedia, corporal punishment is still legal in private schools in every U.S. state except for five ...and allowed in public schools in 17 states.

As a school teacher over 50 years ago, the cane was still used although it is now banned in all Australian schools except for private schools one state.

When talking to family members who are teachers, I am quite shocked by the disciplinary problems they encounter (including slapping and spitting on the teacher) ... teachers are reluctant to report bad behaviour lest they are considered incompetent.

Bad behaviours in the public space, as undisciplined students become teenagers and young adults, means that society at large bears the cost. Even in this sub forum we have seen how undisciplined males feel they can repeatedly threaten the safety of members of a local church.

God's Word is the best guide to how society should function, not psychology sources that reflect the liberal bias of the researchers.

 

[Armour of God]

According to Wikipedia, corporal punishment is still legal in private schools in every U.S. state except for five ...and allowed in public schools in 17 states.

As a school teacher over 50 years ago, the cane was still used although it is now banned in all Australian schools except for private schools one state.

When talking to family members who are teachers, I am quite shocked by the disciplinary problems they encounter (including slapping and spitting on the teacher) ... teachers are reluctant to report bad behaviour lest they are considered incompetent.

Bad behaviours in the public space, as undisciplined students become teenagers and young adults, means that society at large bears the cost. Even in this sub forum we have seen how undisciplined males feel they can repeatedly threaten the safety of members of a local church.

God's Word is the best guide to how society should function, not psychology sources that reflect the liberal bias of the researchers.

Some kids of this generation could do with the good old fashioned cane.

Also a big problem with modern day science is that there is often a conflict of interests.

 

[The Barbarian]

The evidence suggests that it's mostly a matter of consistent parenting. If you chose not to hit your kids at all, then you want to never do it. If you spank kids for specific things, you should be consistent in when you spank them. Kids who turn out badly seem to mostly have been exposed to inconsistent parenting.

Of course, spanking shouldn't leave marks. I'm not talking about brutal behavior here.