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1 in 4 adults think smacking is necessary to ‘properly raise’ kids. But attitudes are changing

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/divna-haslam-893417">Divna Haslam</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847">Queensland University of Technology</a> “Do you want a smack?!” This has been a common refrain from many parents across history. Right along with “just wait till your father gets home”. Somehow parents thought this threat of violence would magically improve their child’s behaviour. The United Nations <a href="https://www.right-to-education.org/sites/right-to-education.org/files/resource-attachments/CRC_1989.pdf">Convention on the Rights of the Child</a> considers smacking and all types of physical punishment, however mild, a violation of child rights. It’s banned in <a href="https://endcorporalpunishment.org/countdown/">65 countries</a>. Yet it remains <a href="https://aifs.gov.au/resources/resource-sheets/physical-punishment-legislation#:%7E:text=Physical%20punishment%20by%20a%20parent%20towards%20a%20child%20remains%20lawful,'">legal</a> in Australia for parents to use “reasonable force” for discipline. Children are the only group of people it remains legal to hit. Our <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ajs4.301">new research</a> found one in four Australians still think physical punishment is necessary to “properly raise” children. And half of parents (across all age groups) reported smacking their children. But attitudes are slowly changing, with newer generations of parents less likely to smack their kids than previous ones. <h2>What is physical punishment?</h2> <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1njkrb">Physical</a> or “corporal” punishment is the use of physical force to cause pain, but not injury, to discipline a child for misbehaviour. It’s distinct from physical abuse which is more extreme and not used to correct behaviour. Physical punishment is <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajs4.276#:%7E:text=Corporal%20punishment%20(CP)%20is%20the,and%20Christian%20missionaries%20during%20colonisation.">the most common type</a> of violence against children. It usually involves smacking, but also includes things like pinching, slapping, or using an implement such as wooden spoon, cane or belt. Smacking doesn’t actually work and makes behaviour <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797617729816?casa_token=YHpEf1m4GiwAAAAA%3A8VRH5_z9fufHJiFGpWVYAk0kuTZCCRB-zneATDatqfLomERAhcyyIES30hMPdIIQ-E-IHOTekiC0Zg&journalCode=pssa">worse over time</a>. And it’s <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Ffam0000191">associated with</a> children internalising problems, increased child aggression, poor parent-child relationships, poorer metal heath and more. In contrast, there are a lot of non-violent parenting strategies that <a href="https://theconversation.com/research-shows-its-harmful-to-smack-your-child-so-what-should-parents-do-instead-186739">do work</a>. <h2>Assessing the state of smacking in Australia</h2> We conducted the first <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ajs4.301">study</a> to comprehensively assess the state of smacking and physical punishment in Australia. We wanted to determine if smacking was still common and how many Australians believed we need to smack our kids. We interviewed more than 8,500 Australians aged 16 to 65 years. Our sample was representative of the national population so we can be confident the findings represent the thoughts and experiences of Australians as a nation. Using such a large age range allowed us to compare people across different age groups to determine if changes are occurring. <h2>What we found</h2> Overall, six in ten (62.5%) Australians between 16–65 years had experienced four or more instances of smacking or physical punishment in childhood. Men were slightly more likely to be physically punished than women (66.3% v 59.1%). Young people, aged 16–24, reported slightly lower rates (58.4%) than older people suggesting a slight decline over time. But these rates remain unacceptably high. Overall, one in two (53.7%) Australian parents reported using some type of physical punishment, mostly about once a month. However, older parents reported on this retrospectively (what they did while raising children) and there were clear age differences: <ul> <li>64.2% of parents aged over 65 years had used physical punishment</li> <li>32.8% of parents 25–34 years had used it</li> <li>14.4% of parents under 24 had used it.</li> </ul> So younger generations of parents are substantially less likely to use physical punishment. <iframe id="3dcJw" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/3dcJw/2/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe> Concerningly, one-quarter (26.4%) of all Australians still believe physical punishment is necessary to properly raise children. But the vast majority (73.6%) do not. And generational change is occurring. Some 37.9% of Australians older than 65 believe physical punishment is necessary compared to 22.9% of those aged 35–44 years, and only 14.8% of people under age 24. <iframe id="NT51y" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/NT51y/3/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe> Socioeconomically disadvantaged people are 2.3 times more likely to believe physical punishment is necessary than those with no disadvantage. Parents who had been physically disciplined when they were children were both more likely to believe it is needed and more likely to use it with their own children. This indicates this form of violence is transmitted across generations. <h2>Time for change</h2> Law reform works best when changes in community attitudes and behaviours are already occurring. So it’s encouraging that younger people are much less likely to believe physical punishment is necessary and are much less likely to use it. This suggests Australians may be open to prohibiting this common form of violence. All states and territories should immediately enact legal reform to prohibit corporal punishment and protect the rights of Australian children. This should be paired with public health and education campaigns about what parents can do instead. If you are a parent looking for effective non-violent parenting strategies the <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp/media/406-million-to-support-the-mental-health-and-wellbeing-of-aussie-kids">government</a> has also made the <a href="https://www.triplep-parenting.net.au/qld-en/free-parenting-courses/triple-p-online-under-12/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgqGrBhDtARIsAM5s0_mmMmbY3khwvp306pGOijqntKzYh6dDI5lQYszLgl6_BOGnuk8HMeEaAn_vEALw_wcB">Triple P Positive Parenting Program</a> available for free. This online program provides practical strategies parents can use to encourage positive behaviour and calm, alternative discipline techniques that can be used to instead of smacking. A number of other evidence-based programs, such as <a href="https://tuningintokids.org.au/">Tuning Into Kids</a>, Parents Under Pressure and <a href="https://www.pcit.org/pcit-in-australia.html">Parent Child Interaction Therapy</a>, are also available. Australia has an opportunity to capitalise on naturally occurring societal changes. We can interrupt this cycle of violence and give more Australians a childhood free of violence. <img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/218837/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/divna-haslam-893417">Divna Haslam</a>, Senior Research Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847">Queensland University of Technology</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/1-in-4-adults-think-smacking-is-necessary-to-properly-raise-kids-but-attitudes-are-changing-218837">original article</a>.

Caring

"Put it up properly!" PM criticised for public flag blunder

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has come under fire after the Aboriginal flag was hung upside down on the first day of the Jobs and Skills Summit at Parliament House - made worse by the fact that no one in attendance seemed to notice the error either. The incorrectly-hung Indigenous flag was in the background displayed alongside the Australia and Torres Strait Islander flags as Mr Albanese addressed the 140 government and business leaders and was spotted in various selfies and photos taken on the day. When correctly flown, the black half of the flag, <a href="https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/aboriginal-flag" target="_blank" rel="noopener">representing</a> First Nations Australians, is meant to be at the top, with the red half, signifying the earth, at the bottom. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Loved joining this powerhouse of women speakers on the opening panel at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/jobssummit?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#jobssummit</a>. Equity for women can’t wait ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/SenKatyG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenKatyG</a>⁩ ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/sammostyn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sammostyn</a>⁩ ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/emmafulu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@emmafulu</a> ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/June_Oscar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@June_Oscar</a>⁩⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/leonora_risse?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@leonora_risse</a>⁩ ⁩ <a href="https://t.co/eVd6kDATfJ">pic.twitter.com/eVd6kDATfJ</a> — Michele O'Neil (@MicheleONeilAU) <a href="https://twitter.com/MicheleONeilAU/status/1565152042347180034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2022</a></blockquote> It hung upside down until delegates left for the lunch break and was correctly displayed when they returned. Prominent Indigenous leaders called out the faux pas, including Coalition Senator Jacinta Price and Warren Mundine, a business leader and former Labor Party president. Senator Price, who has previously criticised Mr Albanese’s flying of the flag as empty symbolism, said it was ironic that the government went out of its way to show symbolic respect for Indigenous Australians, yet still made such an error. “With all the virtuous expression of respect for Aboriginal Australians... and all the carry on with strategically placing the flag prominently to express this deep virtue you’d think that this Albanese Government could actually hang it the right way up?” she said. “Especially at such a significant and groundbreaking event such as the job summit.” <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/albo-flag1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Various speakers were photographed in front of the incorrectly-hung Indigenous flag, which was corrected during the event’s lunch break. Images: @AlboMP (Twitter) Mr Mundine said he was shocked when the saw the flag on TV, describing the mistake as “ignorant” and “pathetic”. “How ignorant and pathetic is it that our national flag is treated this way… put it up properly!” he said. The Parliamentary Services Department, which was responsible for the error, later said the flag being upside down was the result of “an unfortunate human error”. “The incorrect mounting of the Aboriginal flag was due to an unfortunate human error. Once the error was identified, it was immediately corrected,” it said. While a flag flying upside down can signal that someone is in distress in the US and is sometimes used by protestors at rallies, the act is banned under all circumstances by the Australian flag protocols. Mr Albanese has been displaying the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags in parliament and at government events since becoming PM following the May election, with Indigenous MPs and leaders praising it as a long-overdue acknowledgement of First Nations culture and Australia’s history before British colonisation. Images: @AlboMP (Twitter)

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How to wash your hands properly

It’s something most people do everyday, often without really thinking about it, but how you wash your hands can make a real difference to your health and the well-being of those around you. Washing your hands is the one most <a href="https://www.ijidonline.com/article/S1201-9712(04)00172-9/fulltext">effective method</a> to prevent cross-contamination which can cause the spread of illness and infections. And many research studies have shown how improvements in hand hygiene have resulted in reductions in illness. <a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD004265.pub3/information">A look at research from around the world</a> on the promotion of washing hands with soap, found that such interventions resulted in a <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1365-3156.2006.01568.x">30% reduction</a> in diarrhoea episodes and respiratory illnesses such as colds. <a href="https://www.ajicjournal.org/article/S0196-6553(17)30041-X/fulltext">Hand hygiene interventions</a> at elementary schools in the US similarly helped to reduce sick days associated with acute gastrointestinal illness by 31%. The impact of good hand hygiene is even greater among people that have an increased risk of infection. A <a href="https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.46867-0#tab2">study</a> from 2007, for example, found that patients with AIDS who washed their hands more frequently got ill less often. But as <a href="https://jfoodprotection.org/doi/abs/10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-17-378">our recent research shows</a>, despite awareness of the importance of washing your hands, people often fail to do it properly. In our study, we observed how adults over the age of 60 prepared food in a domestic kitchen set up with CCTV cameras, and found that only 30% of people properly washed and dried their hands before preparing food. We found that 90% of people failed to wash and dry their hands properly immediately after handling raw chicken. And that 62% failed to rub hands, palms and between fingers when washing hands. We also discovered that 47% of people in our study failed to use soap during one or more hand washing attempt. We also swabbed the kitchen and found that those who adequately washed their hands, had significantly lower levels of microbiological contamination levels in the kitchen following food preparation sessions. <a href="https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/00070700510606873/full/html">Other studies</a> have also determined that failing to wash hands adequately after handling raw poultry can transfer bacteria to domestic kitchen surfaces – such as the handles of taps and refrigerators. All of which highlights the importance of properly washing your hands. <h2>How to wash your hands</h2> The World Health Organisation <a href="https://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/consumer/manual_keys.pdf">recommends</a> that to wash your hands effectively, it needs to be done with clean water and soap. Hands should be rubbed together for at least 20 seconds, followed by rinsing. Hands must also be dried using either disposable kitchen paper or a clean hand towel. The use of soap is particularly important for hand washing to be effective. Indeed, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3037063/">research</a> has shown that washing with soap significantly reduced the presence of bacteria on hands. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1XVhNEoxtN8?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> The soap doesn’t have to be antibacterial to be effective – though antibacterial soap works on reducing the number of bacteria not just removing them. And research has <a href="https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.2007.124610">shown</a> that the use of non-antibacterial soap is successful for preventing both gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses. You should spend 20 seconds washing and drying your hands. Here’s how to do it properly: wet your hands with clean water, use soap, rub palm to palm, rub back of hands, rub between fingers, rub fingernails, rinse your hands. Then dry them using a clean towel or kitchen paper. <h2>Dry them properly too</h2> Hand drying is also very important to prevent contamination from hands to food, surfaces and equipment as the transmission of bacteria is <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2809004/">more likely</a> to occur from wet skin than from dry skin. So the proper drying of hands after washing should be an <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3538484/">integral part</a> of hand hygiene. Drying your hands properly also removes a significant number of bacteria following hand washing – drying with a towel removes pathogens by means of friction, on top of the removal of moisture. Though this means that a hand towel can become a site for cross-contamination. Indeed, in <a href="https://jfoodprotection.org/doi/abs/10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-17-378">our study</a> we found that 37% of people used the same towel for drying hands and equipment. It is essential to wash hands on occasions when they may be contaminated such as before, during, and after preparing food – particularly after handing raw meat and poultry – after using the toilet, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing and after touching an animal. This is important, because washing our hands properly can mean the difference between sickness and health. And for people with compromised immune systems it can even mean the difference between life and death – so make sure you do it properly. If in doubt follow the tips above and sing “<a href="https://tools.cdc.gov/medialibrary/index.aspx#/media/id/302345">Happy Birthday</a>” twice to allow enough time to remove and rinse away any germs.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/125330/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ellen-w-evans-326143">Ellen W. Evans</a>, Junior Research Fellow, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/cardiff-metropolitan-university-1585">Cardiff Metropolitan University</a> This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/most-people-dont-wash-their-hands-properly-heres-how-it-should-be-done-125330">original article</a>.

Body

4 expert tips: How to store books properly

To keep your books in pristine condition, it is not enough to just put them on a shelf or stack them on your nightstand. Below are some of the best tips from librarians and experts that will help preserve books in good condition and prolong their life for years to come. 1. Find the right place When it comes to storing books, humidity and temperature are the keys. To promote book longevity, the storage area should be a stable, cool, dry and well-ventilated environment. A room that is too humid or prone to condensation can lead to mould growth and encourage insects like silverfish and roaches, while hot temperatures can turn the bindings and pages dry and brittle. Because of this, experts generally advise against keeping books in the attics, basements and garages. Places near radiators, vents or water pipes are also not recommended. The British Library recommends keeping your reads in a place that has a relative humidity of 45 to 55 per cent. You can check the humidity level by getting a hygrometer. 2. Stay away from sunlight Direct sunlight brings a lot of damage on books. Prolonged sunlight exposure can bleach spines and increase the paper’s acid content, allowing for the release of organic acidic vapours and turning the papers yellow and brittle. The US Library of Congress also suggests keeping books away from other intense lights. 3. Keep upright whenever possible According to the National Library of Scotland, only large, heavy books should be placed flat. Other types of books should be kept upright without leaning to the sides of the shelves in order to protect the covers and spines. Organising books by size and using book stands with books of similar size could help them maintain their shape. If you have to stack your books, make sure to keep the largest books at the bottom and lighter, smaller ones on top in a pyramid-adjacent shape to prevent the spines from becoming rolled. Take care not to leave any books open and facing down for any period of time. 4. Clean regularly Dust your books regularly to prevent dirt from accumulating, which could foster mould growth and pest infestation. To clean a book, take it from the shelf, keep the book closed and use a soft, chemical-free duster to clean it individually. Don’t forget to clean the bookshelves – while they are clear, you can also use this opportunity to vacuum the floor underneath the shelves. How do you store your books? Share your ideas in the comments.

Books

How to teach Siri to correctly pronounce names

Lisa Du is director of <a href="https://readytechgo.com.au/" target="_blank">ReadyTechGo</a>, a service that helps people gain the confidence and skills to embrace modern technology. Siri. You either love her or you hate her. I personally love the Siri feature on Apple devices, and if you take the time to learn how to use Siri effectively, I’m sure you’ll find that she is amazing. However, there is one thing that drives me up the wall... when Siri mispronounces names! Some of my friends call me "Lise" (pronounced Leese...) and Siri constantly pronounces my names “Lies”. How to train Siri to correctly pronounce names 1. Activate Siri, and say "That's not how you pronounce [name]" eg Lise Siri will ask you "Which [name]?" Tap on the contact name that you want to change the pronunciation of. <img width="264" height="" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e785dd9ba906ed79fad48bd7e/images/02015337-74db-432e-bd37-949440318d68.png" class="mcnImage" style="max-width: 576px; line-height: 100%; outline: none; vertical-align: bottom; height: auto !important;"/> 2. Siri will ask you: "Ok, how do you pronounce [name]?" Teach Siri how to correctly pronounce the name by saying it aloud. <img width="264" height="" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e785dd9ba906ed79fad48bd7e/images/a058583f-8b43-4dc1-b137-06185d50c3fc.png" class="mcnImage" style="max-width: 750px; line-height: 100%; outline: none; vertical-align: bottom; height: auto !important;"/> 3. Siri will give you several playback options Tap on the Play symbol to hear how Siri pronounces each version. Choose the correct pronunciation by tapping Select. <img width="264" height="" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e785dd9ba906ed79fad48bd7e/images/f66bc82b-9009-413e-8728-c4447c476722.png" class="mcnImage" style="max-width: 750px; line-height: 100%; outline: none; vertical-align: bottom; height: auto !important;"/> And there you have it, that's how you can train Siri to correctly pronounce names.

Technology

This baby's joy at seeing properly for the first time is adorable

The heartwarming moment a baby was able to see properly for the first time in his young life has been captured on camera. Three-month-old Everett, from Iowa in the US, was diagnosed with oculocutaneous albinism shortly after he was born. The rare condition affects his vision as well as the pigmentation of the skin, hair and eyes. But now little Everett is able to see clearly thanks to a special pair of glasses. The beautiful moment Everett sees his mum for the first time is captured below. The lad starts kicking his legs and his face slowly turns from confusion to a big smile. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DOAoCH4fWzw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> What a precious moment!

Caring

How to apologise properly

Apologising sincerely and effectively can be a difficult skill to master. Equal parts head, heart, art and science, a true, heartfelt apology can be the difference between a relationship flourishing or faltering. While we all understand what the intent behind an apology is, many of us aren’t aware of the key elements that should be included in any apology. These include: <ul> <li>A thorough account of the situation</li> <li>Acknowledgment of the hurt or distress caused</li> <li>Accepting responsibility for the situation</li> <li>Recognition of your contribution to the situation</li> <li>A statement asking for forgiveness</li> <li>A declaration that the actions won’t be repeated</li> <li>A form of restitution if possible</li> </ul> By giving a complete account of the situation you are not only acknowledging what has happened but ensuring that both you and the other person are both on the same page. Being specific is important as it focuses your apology and lasers in on the hurt caused. An acknowledgement of the hurt party’s feelings gives both validation and empathy and shows that you understand the situation at hand. By taking responsibility for your actions you show that you want to fix the problem once and for all. It’s important not to try and justify the situation or defend yourself when apologising. It’s a very easy trap to fall into, especially when we feel uncomfortable. The apology however is not about you or about helping you feel better. It’s about the wrong party. At the conclusion of any apology, you should always ask for forgiveness. This puts the ball into the recipient’s court and allows them to share their own feelings and open up a dialogue that will hopefully restore your relationship. What do you think is the most important element of an apology? Share your thoughts with us in the comments. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/relationships/2016/10/celena-ross-on-importance-on-hugs/">Don’t underestimate the value of a hug</a> <a href="/lifestyle/relationships/2016/09/robyn-lee-on-living-on-my-own/">I love being on my own</a> <a href="/lifestyle/relationships/2016/08/beautiful-quotes-about-friendship-from-over60/">Beautiful quotes about friendship</a>

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