According to UNICEF, more than one in four mothers or responsible adults believe that corporal punishment is necessary for the proper upbringing of their children.
Nearly 400 million children under the age of five - about 60% of this age group globally - are subjected to violent physical or psychological punishment at home - from slapping to insults, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported.
UNICEF's new estimates reflect data from 100 countries collected over the period 2010-2023 and cover both "physical punishment" and "psychological aggression".
For UNICEF, psychological abuse can include yelling at the child or calling them "stupid" or "lazy", while physical abuse includes hitting or slapping the child or any action intended to cause physical pain or discomfort, AFP reported.
Of these nearly 400 million children, about 330 million are subjected to physical punishment, the UN agency says.
And although more countries are banning corporal punishment of children, nearly 500 million children under the age of five are not protected from such practices by law.
According to UNICEF, more than one in four responsible adults believe that corporal punishment is necessary for the proper upbringing of their children.
"When children are physically or verbally abused at home, or when they are deprived of social and emotional care by their loved ones, it can undermine their sense of self-worth and development," UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a statement.
"Caring and playful parenting can bring joy and help children feel safe, learn, build skills and navigate the world around them."
For the first time, UNICEF has published data on children's access to play to mark the first ever International Day of Play, which is celebrated on 11 June.
According to data from 85 countries, one in two children aged four cannot play with a carer at home, and around one in eight children under the age of five have no toys at all.
About 40% of children aged two to four do not receive enough stimulation or meaningful interaction at home.
And one in ten do not have access to activities "that are crucial for promoting cognitive, social and emotional development, such as reading, telling stories, singing and drawing," UNICEF said.
"On the first International Day of Play, we must come together and recommit to ending child abuse and promoting positive, caring and playful care," Russell said. | BGNES
