Part of my job as a pediatrician at a large urban hospital is to advise families on actions they can take to create the safest and healthiest home environment possible.

Imagine my concern when a parent threatens an uncooperative child during an exam with a spanking. Even more disturbing is when the parent acts on that threat. I can't help but think, "If this parent hits the child in the exam room in front of me, what happens at home?"

This past month we were reminded about what can happen at home. Two 4-year-old boys made the headlines: Eric Dean, who died at the hands of his stepmother, and the son of Adrian Peterson, who was subjected to whipping at the hands of his father.

Inflicting physical injury on a child should never be considered "discipline." In Minnesota, physical punishment that results in bruises, cuts, burns, lasting hand marks from spankings, or other injuries is child abuse. Health care and mental health professionals, child care providers, police, social workers and school personnel are required by law to report such abuse to child protection services, but anyone who sees evidence of abuse can and should report it.

Though spanking generally doesn't fall under the legal category of abuse, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strongly discourages this practice because it can escalate, resulting in serious injury and harm, and lead to further negative behavior. Furthermore, spanking has been associated with higher rates of physical aggression, more substance abuse and an increased risk of crime and violence when used with children and adolescents.

As a child abuse consultant, I have seen physical punishment result in abusive injuries all too often. Many are inflicted by parents or caregivers who hit, shook or spanked children harder than intended in a moment of anger. No child deserves or benefits from such punishment. Yet it's happening every day in homes across the state and many injuries go unnoticed or unreported. For this reason, I applaud Gov. Mark Dayton's efforts to strengthen Minnesota's child protection system and establish a task force to better address suspected cases of abuse and maltreatment.

Discipline is an important and necessary part of parenting. However, it should be used as a tool to teach children, not harm them.

To that frustrated parent in the exam room who is tempted to spank, I express empathy and then suggest an alternative method of correcting the child's behavior. I encourage parents to learn more about discipline strategies that do not involve violence, such as timeouts, natural consequences, revocation of privileges and reward-based systems. I explain how these approaches help children achieve independence, critical thinking skills, self-control and respect for others over the long run.

Ultimately, the most effective way to teach children right from wrong is for caregivers to model healthy ways of dealing with stress and conflict. In the absence of physical punishment, homes are safer, families are stronger and children are wiser.

Sarah Lucken, of Roseville, is a pediatrician.