A 26-year-old man who allegedly beat his eight-year-old son so severely that his nose bled, all because the boy could not recite his seven times table, was ordered to undergo counselling when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court.

Charged with assault occasioning bodily harm is an unemployed man of a Kingston 11 address.

Allegations are that on the day in question, the accused was left in charge of the complainant and his sibling. It is alleged that he instructed the children to study but reportedly became enraged when he saw the complainant laughing.

It is alleged that he then instructed the boy to recite his times table, which he did successfully up to his six times table. The court was told that the boy made a few errors while doing his seven times table and was beaten with a piece of board. He reportedly suffered bruises and swellings to his cheek, nose, thigh, arm and forearm.

The child was also reportedly slapped in the face, causing a nosebleed. The boy was taken to the hospital and to the police station after his mother discovered the bruises on his body.

When the matter was mentioned in court on Thursday, the accused told the court that he merely 'scolded' the child. He, however, later admitted that he had hit the child with a stick because he found him "laughing and gallivanting" after he told him to study.

Resident Magistrate Georgianna Fraser told the accused that he needed to learn some anger management and parenting techniques. The accused was ordered to undergo counselling from the Probation Department.

He was granted $100,000 bail with surety and was ordered to submit his fingerprints.

He is to return to court on June 1 for sentencing.