The Rainbow Project, Inc.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month — a time to pause, reflect, and grow beyond what we were taught to accept as “normal.”

“Give your child a refuge in you.” — Eric Crawford, Child & Family Therapist, The Rainbow Project, Inc.

We recently joined Dr. Alvin Thomas on The Black Fathers’ Pulse Podcast to talk about one of the most taboo and emotionally charged topics in parenting: spanking.

Many parents say, “I was spanked and I turned out alright.” We hear it often. But decades of research show that even well‑intended corporal punishment—spanking, popping, pinching—has lasting negative effects on children.

As our Founder & Executive Director Sharyl Kato shares in the episode:

“There are over 1,574 studies showing that spanking is harmful… linked to increased aggression, strained parent relationships, lower self‑esteem, anti‑social behavior, and even lower IQ in early childhood.”

In this powerful conversation, we explore:

- The prevalence of spanking within the Black community
- The critical role of fathers in shaping healthy discipline
- How to push back on community expectations rooted in survival, not support
- Real, practical alternatives to spanking when kids misbehave

This isn’t about blame. It’s about breaking cycles of intergenerational trauma, unlearning harm, and choosing connection — especially for children who deserve safety, dignity, and care.

🎧 New episode out today. Listen wherever you get your podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NOxmkjpqQX3Jsu5F8aPV3

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-spanking-black-fatherhood-and-the-new/id1779171940?i=1000761116896

https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d006cb6c-fd26-48d4-b56e-f4727d01f7b6/episodes/843f4b5c-b2d4-47bf-84a5-5cb89cb54637/the-black-fathers'-pulse-podcast-beyond-spanking-black-fatherhood-and-the-new-era-of-discipline