Smacking

[Shizuoka Dolphin]

Where do you draw the line in the hot potato of an issue?

PERSONALLY, I think six of the best on the bottom (with a hand) is enough to set a toddler straight. I don't agree with the need for slippers etc, and I certainly don't advocate beating a child's facial areas. However, some do, and I'm sure many here grew up having experienced the firm hand of their father at some stage or another.

In this day and age of politcal correctness, Europe, TVs, and video games, where do you stand on the issue of HITTING your kids? Is it a required part of their development in learning right from wrong, or is it like they say in Brussels, that it amounts to little more than child abuse?

 

[magoo]

"Never did me any harm blah blah blah!" didn't it?

call me a liberal old lentil eating hippy (i'm not by the way) but i believe if you have to resort to hitting a child to make it do what you want then you've lost.

 

[Starry]

none at all.

none of our children have ever been smacked. what does it teach them - that if someone does something wrong it's ok to hit them? not a lesson i want our children learning.

from the very start when our oldest was tiny we've done natural and logic consequences.

this is a hot topic on mrs starry's parenting forums. always good for thousand plus post threads, not sure anyone here can get quite so hot under the collar over it but it is mildly amusing watching them going at it.

 

[Seagullible]

One smack on the bum for really naughty bhavior works a treat, then the threat of it is enough BUT the child MUST be told what they have done wrong and why it is wrong

 

[Simster]

Our children have very occasionally been smacked on the wrist but it's an awful feeling afterwards. I'd like to think I'll try anything before smacking and the only time they are ever smacked is towards the end of the day when you're absolutely exhausted. Not an excuse, that is simply the reality. In fact if anything, it only goes to show that it is the wrong thing to do.

However, it'll be a sad day when it's made illegal IMO. Just because I try not to smack, there's no reason why others shouldn't disagree.

 

[DIFFBROOK]

Being a new Father with a little 10 month old girl I agree with the posters about not hitting their children. Obviously my little girl hasn't reached the age where she can be really naughty, but I wouldn't want to smack her. Harming her would make me feel really sad (it does now even typing this).

The thought of disappointing my parents has stayed with me far longer than the sting of a smack.

 

[Buzzer]

I've never hit my 2 children and never will. It's a personal thing, though and don't want to judge other parents who do smack theirs.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Easily done - if you are tired and the child appears deliberately provocative ............. but it is a sign you need to re-think your strategies. Not a road to go down.

 

[Nibble]

Anyone who hits their children is a cruel, weak, heartless, lazy, spineless child abuser. For whatever reason. Do you hit pensioners in homes when they don't do what you want.

If I see anyone smacking their kids in publicI always say something to them. Horrific behaviour. Some people should be bloody ashamed of themselves.

 

[Nibble]

Our children have very occasionally been smacked on the wrist but it's an awful feeling afterwards. I'd like to think I'll try anything before smacking and the only time they are ever smacked is towards the end of the day when you're absolutely exhausted. Not an excuse, that is simply the reality. In fact if anything, it only goes to show that it is the wrong thing to do.

However, it'll be a sad day when it's made illegal IMO. Just because I try not to smack, there's no reason why others shouldn't disagree.

It will be a f***ing great day when smacking is made illegal. Why should it be illegal to hit an adult but legal to hit a child?

 

[Moshe Gariani]

the occasional smack never did me any harm

I remember clearly the weekly beatings that took place at St Andrew's Middle School in the 70s... the offenders would be led out on a raised platform in front of the whole school and caned on an outstretched palm - there were no problems with discipline in THAT school

 

[Nibble]

The occasional smack never did me any harm? Well no, I'm sure if you smacked a bloke in the pub it would not really cause him any lasting harm but that is no reason to do it. It is still a bad thing to do to someone else.

People wear that like a badge of honour "a smack never did me any harm" really? Didn't upset you at all?

 

[Moshe Gariani]

really? Didn't upset you at all?

namby pamby liberals aiming to never "upset" children has led to the chaos we now accept as modern society...

 

[Nibble]

namby pamby liberals aiming to never "upset" children has led to the chaos we now accept as modern society...

Im not saying never upset children but you don't have to hit them. I'm certainly not namby pamby with kids just don't believe whacking someone to get them to understand is on. How would you like it if I walked around beside you and every time you did something I thought was bad I punched you?

 

[Seagullible]

Anyone who hits their children is a cruel, weak, heartless, lazy, spineless child abuser. For whatever reason. Do you hit pensioners in homes when they don't do what you want.

If I see anyone smacking their kids in publicI always say something to them. Horrific behaviour. Some people should be bloody ashamed of themselves.

you can have your opinion but calling someone a child abuser goes way to far, personally, I think you can go f*** yourself

 

[magoo]

BUT the child MUST be told what they have done wrong and why it is wrong

yes but can that not be done without the smack beforehand? maybe some other punishment like the removal of a favourite toy or a good old naughty step if they're toddler age?

 

[Moshe Gariani]

How would you like it if I walked around beside you and every time you did something I thought was bad I punched you?

not much....

 

[Nibble]

you can have your opinion but calling someone a child abuser goes way to far, personally, I think you can go f*** yourself

Why? Do you agree with hitting children? which is child abuse.

 

[Napper]

I was disciplined for serious issues with a cane across legs and it did me no harm what so ever, problem is there are so many parents about that shouldnt be parents that it opens up a whole can of whoop arse. So, easiest rule is No Slapping

 

[Nibble]

My dad beat the shit out of me. At school I got whacked I don't think it did me any lasting harm but it doesn't have to be judged on the long term effects. It should be judged on what it is - Hitting someone else because you have no other skills to control your own child. It is weak, it is bullying and it is abuse.

All smacking does is teach the child that if you do something wrong you get a whack. It does not instil any knowledge of why somethng is wrong to do. And as for parents saying that "they have to learn" what they should say is that "they have to shut up and stop bothering me" because children learn one thing from being smacked and that is to be quiet. Lazy and abusive parenting.