What is SpankOut Day, USA?

"Raising Responsible (Good) Kids Without Hitting"

SpankOut Day USA was initiated in 1998 to give widespread attention to the need to end corporal punishment of children and to promote non-violent ways of teaching children appropriate behavior. EPOCH-USA (End Physical Punishment of Children) sponsors SpankOut Day USA on April 30th of each year. All parents, guardians, and caregivers are encouraged to refrain from hitting children on this day, and to seek alternative methods of discipline through programs available in community agencies, churches and schools.

Since 1998, over 1,000 informational events on child discipline have been carried out by organizations on SpankOut Day USA. Thousands of individuals have participated in this observance.

You can do something to stop children from being hit, even if you only have a few minutes to help. Click here to see the SpankOut Day Tool Kit for easy, effective ideas.

SpankOut Day participants, agencies, churches and schools are required to teach no hitting/positive discipline to parents and caregivers. Participant evaluations are required. Here is a summary of more than 1,000 participant responses from attendees of 2008 events to the following questions:

1) Did the event provide information about the negative effects of physical punishment?

Yes: 94.2 No: 2.2% Not sure: 3.6%

2) Did you learn at least one new type of non-physical discipline at this event?

Yes: 93.8% No: 4.1% Not sure: 2.1%

3) If you take care of children, will you be more likely to use non-physical discipline as a result of what you learned at this event?

Very likely: 88.0% Somewhat likely: 0.2% Not likely: 1.8%

Not sure: 4.7% Not applicable: 5.4%

In 2009, the Center for Effective Discipline awarded grants to 20 organizations for informational events. Here is a summary of more than 400 participant responses from attendees of 2009 events to the following questions:

1) Did the event provide information about the negative effects of physical punishment?

Yes: 93.2% No: 3.3% Not sure: 3.5%

2) Did you learn at least one new type of non-physical discipline at this event?

Yes: 94.9% No: 3.0% Not sure: 2.1%

3) If you take care of children, will you be more likely to use non-physical discipline as a result of what you learned at this event?

Very Likely: 91.8% Somewhat Likely: 0.9%

Not Sure: 4.2% Not Applicable: 3.1%

Download: What is SpankOut Day USA April 30th?

Spank Out Day Mini-Grants

2010 SpankOut Day USA Events and Programs

2009 SpankOut Day ACCEPTED Events and Programs

SpankOut Day Tool Kit

Things to consider for a successful SpankOut Day event

Parent Support and Training Materials

Spank Out Day Ideas

Sample Letter to the Editor

Public Service Announcements

Sample Press Release

Sample Proclamation

Sample Proclamation Request

Sample Mayor’s Proclamation PDF Only

Support Materials Catalog

Sample Event Announcement

Sample Resolution for Towns

Activities for Faith Communities

Tool Kit for International Participants

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WE SUPPORT SPANKOUT DAY APRIL 30TH
A DAY OF NON-VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN

We support SpankOut Day April 30th, a no-hitting, no-smacking, no spanking day for children, because it provides an opportunity for concerned organizations and individuals in all countries to speak out against physical punishment of children and to promote non-violent effective discipline. Physical punishment puts children at risk for physical and psychological harm, tolerance of violence, anti-social behavior, and poorer adjustment in adulthood. Non-violent discipline helps children become caring, responsible, and self-disciplined adults. Through educational events and campaigns, newsletters, and discussions on April 30th of each year, parents and caregivers will learn about the effects of corporal punishment and non-violent alternatives so they will see that children can be raised successfully without physical punishment.

INVITED SPANKOUT DAY ENDORSEMENTS

• USA
  Dr. Murray Straus, Durham, NH
  Adrienne Haeuser, Milwaukee, WI
  Dr. Elizabeth Gershoff, New York, NY
  Dr. Alvin Pouissant, Boston, MA
  Dr. Philip Greven, New Brunswick, NJ
  Dr. Robert Fathman, Dublin, OH
  Dr. Charles Johnson, Columbus, OH
  Dr. Stephen J. Bavolek, Arden, NC
  Susan Bitensky, Esq., Detroit, MI
  Dr. Alan Button, Fresno, CA
  Dr. Cynthia Price Cohen, New York, NY
  Dr. Richard Gelles, Kingston, RI
  Dr. David Gil, Waltham, MA
  Isadora Hare, Washington, DC
  Dr. Irwin Hyman, Philadelphia, PA
  Dr. Kenelm F. McCormick, Barberton, OH
  Clark Moeller, Towanda, PA
  Paul Mones, Esq., Portland, OR
  Fran Morris, Oklahoma City, OK
  Dr. Carolyn Newberger, Boston, MA
  Dr. Eli Newberger, Boston, MA
  Rev. Dr. Thomas E. Sagendorf, Hamilton IN
  Dr. Lesli Taylor, Chapel Hill, NC
  Dr. John Valusek, Wichita, KS
  Dr. Edward Zigler, New Haven, CT
  Dr. Lucien Lombardo, Norfolk, VA
  Dr. Karen Polonko, Norfolk, VA
  Dr. Madeleine Y. Gomez, Chicago, IL
  Dr. Katharine Kersy, Norfolk, VA
• CAMBODIA
  Glen Miles, Phnom Penh
• CANADA
  Dr. Joan Durrant, Winnipeg, Manitoba
  Corinne Robertshaw, Toronto, Ontario
  Dr. Elliott Barker, Midland, Ontario
• CROATIA
  NGO MiRTa, Split
• INDIA
  APANACH members Mr. Santosh Kulkarni, Dr. Suman Karandikar,
  Dr. Deshpande, Dr. Meenal Naravane, Mrs. Sanjoy Apte,
  Mrs. Swati Kulkarni, Mrs. Varsha Patil, Mrs. Sushila
• NEPAL
  Dhiraj Karki
• SWEDEN
  Mali Nilsson, Stockholm
• TASMANIA
  Patmalar Ambikapathy
• UNITED KINGDOM
  Peter Newell, London
  Dr. Penelope Leach, London
• WALES
  Dr. Alison Maddocks, Consultant Paediatrician
• ZIMBABWE
  Dr. Jock Posen

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