Parents favour silent treatment

The report surveyed parents of 8,000 children

Eight out of 10 parents think smacking is neither useful nor effective, according to a parenting report.

The briefing has been published by Edinburgh University's Centre for Research on Families and Relationships.

It said most parents of toddlers found ignoring bad behaviour was the most effective disciplinary technique.

The report analysed data from the Growing Up in Scotland (GUS) study, and comes weeks after MPs voted against enforcing a UK-wide smacking ban.

The GUS study, commissioned by the Scottish Government, surveyed parents of 8,000 children about a range of issues affecting their parenting style.

Outcomes for children may be as influenced by social and economic resources as they are by parenting styles Professor Lynn Jamieson Edinburgh University

The findings also showed 66% of babies' parents who use childcare, rely on grandparents to provide that care, and that older mothers increasingly struggle with a lack of family support.

Professor Lynn Jamieson, from CRFR, said: "This report highlights interesting trends, but it is also important to remember that how parenting impacts on children is a complex matter and we need to look carefully at claims that there is a 'one size fits all' style of parenting.

"Outcomes for children may be as influenced by social and economic resources as they are by parenting styles.

"Parenting strategies to ensure a child's wellbeing may need to be very different on a housing estate affected by high levels of drug abuse and violence than those in a middle-class leafy suburb."