New Parenting Poll Reveals 67.2% of Canadian Parents Say Spanking Is Never Acceptable

Key Summary

We asked CanadianParent.ca readers a direct question: Is spanking ever acceptable?

As of June 2026:

67.2% said No — spanking is never acceptable
32.8% said Yes — spanking may be acceptable in certain situations
More than 2,700 parents and caregivers participated

With more than 2,700 responses collected, the results suggest that most Canadian parents have moved away from physical punishment as a disciplinary tool. The findings reflect broader shifts in parenting attitudes, growing awareness of child development research, and increased interest in positive discipline strategies.

67.2% of Canadian parents say spanking is never acceptable — CanadianParent.ca 2026 poll

Key Findings

67.2% of respondents said spanking is never acceptable.
32.8% said spanking may be acceptable in certain situations.
More than 2,700 parents and caregivers participated in the poll.
The results suggest a significant majority of Canadian parents favour non-physical discipline methods.

Survey Results at a Glance

When asked, “Is spanking ever acceptable?” participants responded:

No — 67.2%
Yes — 32.8%

The results show that approximately two-thirds of respondents reject spanking as a disciplinary approach, while roughly one-third believe there may still be circumstances where it is appropriate.

Why Are More Parents Moving Away From Spanking?

Parenting practices have evolved considerably over the past several decades. While physical punishment was once common and widely accepted, many modern parenting resources emphasize approaches that focus on teaching, communication, and emotional regulation rather than physical consequences.

Research from public health organizations and child development experts has increasingly linked physical punishment with negative outcomes, including increased aggression, anxiety, and strained parent-child relationships. Canada’s Public Health Agency states that spanking is not an effective way to change behaviour and can harm the parent-child relationship. (Public Health Agency of Canada)

As a result, many parents have embraced alternatives such as:

Natural consequences
Time-ins
Calm-down strategies
Positive reinforcement
Consistent boundaries and routines
Age-appropriate expectations

These methods aim to teach children why behaviours are inappropriate rather than simply stopping the behaviour in the moment.

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The Canadian Legal Context

One reason this topic continues to generate debate is that many Canadians are surprised to learn that spanking remains legal in limited circumstances.

Under Section 43 of Canada’s Criminal Code, parents may use what the law defines as “reasonable force” for correction. However, significant restrictions apply. Physical punishment involving objects, blows to the head, children under two years old, or teenagers falls outside the legal protections established by Canadian courts. (Library of Parliament)

Despite its legal status in certain circumstances, many child advocacy organizations, medical professionals, and parenting experts continue to recommend non-physical approaches to discipline. (Public Health Agency of Canada)

A Generational Shift in Parenting

The results of this poll may reflect a broader generational change in how parents think about discipline.

Many of today’s parents grew up in households where spanking was more common. However, modern parenting conversations often place greater emphasis on emotional intelligence, mental health, and understanding child behaviour through a developmental lens.

Instead of asking, “How do I stop this behaviour?” many parents are increasingly asking:

Why is my child behaving this way?
What skill are they missing?
How can I teach the desired behaviour more effectively?

This shift has helped fuel growing interest in approaches such as gentle parenting, respectful parenting, and authoritative parenting. While these styles differ in practice, they generally share a focus on maintaining boundaries without using physical punishment.

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Why Some Parents Still Support Spanking

Although the majority of respondents opposed spanking, nearly one-third said it can be acceptable.

For some families, spanking remains a disciplinary method they experienced growing up and view as effective when used sparingly. Others may believe physical punishment is justified in situations involving safety concerns or repeated defiance. Supporters often argue that occasional spanking differs from abuse and can provide immediate consequences for dangerous behaviour.

However, many child development experts argue that while spanking may stop behaviour temporarily, it does not necessarily teach the long-term skills children need to regulate their actions independently. Research cited by pediatric organizations has found that physical punishment is associated with increased aggression and poorer behavioural outcomes over time. (Time)

What This Means for Canadian Families

The most notable takeaway from this poll is not that opinions differ—it is that a clear majority of parents now reject spanking altogether.

Parenting remains deeply personal, and discipline decisions are often influenced by culture, family history, values, and individual child temperament. However, the survey results suggest that many Canadian parents are increasingly looking toward non-physical approaches that emphasize teaching, communication, and long-term skill building.

As parenting advice continues to evolve, discussions about discipline are likely to remain one of the most debated topics among families.

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Does Gentle Parenting Actually Work?
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Nearly 90% of parents said no — see the full results.

Methodology

This article is based on data collected through a CanadianParent.ca reader poll conducted in 2026. At the time of publication, more than 2,700 respondents had participated. Results reflect the opinions of poll participants and are not intended to represent a nationally representative sample of all Canadian parents.

Poll results continue to update as additional votes are received.

Cite This Study

CanadianParent.ca. (2026). Is Spanking Ever Acceptable? Parent Opinion Poll. CanadianParent.ca.

Survey result: 67.2% of respondents said spanking is never acceptable, while 32.8% said it can be acceptable in certain situations.

URL: https://canadianparent.ca/rewards/poll/is-spanking-ever-acceptable-1

Final Thoughts

The results of this poll suggest that Canadian parents are increasingly embracing discipline strategies that focus on communication, emotional regulation, and teaching rather than physical punishment. While opinions remain divided, a clear majority of respondents believe spanking is never an acceptable parenting tool.

Of course, discipline is just one of many parenting topics where families continue to debate the best approach. If you’re interested in how other Canadian parents are navigating today’s biggest parenting questions, explore some of our recent survey results: