You’ve got mail. One month to go until Wales ends the physical punishment of children.

You’ve got mail. One month to go until Wales ends the physical punishment of children.

A leaflet will be delivered to every home in Wales this month to help raise awareness of a landmark new law to end the physical punishment of children.

The Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 comes into force on 21 March.

The bilingual leaflet, which is part of a public awareness campaign, outlines what you need to know about ending physical punishment of children in Wales. The campaign also includes TV, radio, print and digital advertising.

The new law will apply to everyone in Wales who is responsible for a child – parents and carers – and will also include visitors. All types of physical punishment, like smacking, hitting, slapping and shaking will be illegal.

The Act will give children the same protection from assault as adults for the first time and make the law clearer and easier for children, parents, professionals and the public to understand.

From 21 March 2022 anyone who physically punishes a child will be breaking the law in Wales.

The Welsh Government’s long-running Parenting. Give it time campaign offers positive parenting practical hints, tips and expert advice to encourage good behaviour from children and young people, and alternatives to physical punishment. A number of organisations and professionals, including local authorities, midwives, health visitors, GPs, family information services and third sector organisations, also offer parenting advice and support.  Links to further parenting support and helplines can be found on the Parenting. Give it time website.

Lauren Foote, a mother of two young children from Tredegar, said: “You shouldn’t be able to physically punish anyone. I just don’t think it’s right – it’s assault. I know some people in the older generation think it might be alright.

“My mum’s father who passed away many years ago did think it was ok to smack children, but in this day and age I just think it’s completely wrong. I can’t believe people used to do that. I’m so glad that attitudes have changed.

“If I see anyone in the park hitting a child, I get really shocked and taken aback by it as I thought it was illegal already. It’s not something we talk about with my friends who are mothers. If we speak about our children being naughty, we discuss how we distract them or take their favourite toys away from them as discipline rather than going to smack.”

Lisa Cordery, a specialist community public health nurse at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said: “People are very aware physical punishment doesn’t work; it doesn’t lead to improved discipline; it simply creates more trauma and affects the parent/carer-child relationship for a long time.”