The holidays are usually a happy and joyful time, but it can also be very stressful. Children stuck at home, along with an array of holiday tasks, can lead to stressful situations and spanking. Please don’t Spank Your Child for the Holidays! Several studies have shown that corporal punishment is ineffective in correcting behaviors in the long-term. Spanking has been shown to cause adverse outcomes in children during childhood and later in life.