Smacking children - yes / no / maybe .... ?

[jandl100]

Is the law sensible? ... what do you think?

Interesting article from today's Mail on Sunday here http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2093313/Good-parents-punished-liberal-elite.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

[Macca]

The law as it stands does allow parents to administer light chastisement i.e a fairly gentle slap that does not leave a mark or bruise. The problem is most parents do not realise this and think any physical punishment of their children is illegal. One thing I have notcied is that today's kids are a bit soft compared to my generation. I grew up with some right tough kids, real hard cases, you don't seem to encounter them anymore. They are all mouth and no trousers these days.

[Mr Nad]

I recall an interview on radio 4 a few moons ago. There were two guests discussing the issue of smacking children. The part that remained with me went something like this:

Academic #1 "I was smacked as a child and it never did me any harm."
Academic #2 "How do you know?"

That aside, yes, one should be permitted to smack a child. Are you going to allow a child to put their hand on to a hot pan, or are you going to smack that hand out of the way (which may well leave a mark)? I'd go for the smack and a sharp "No!". The marking won't last nearly as long as the blistering, scarring, or tissue damage that could result from a severe burn.

The law, however, wants my child to be physically scarred forever.

[Rare Bird]

There's ways to control children without smacking them

[Alex_UK]

I think it is important to have the "ultimate deterrent" but at the same time, it is a bit difficult to tell your kids off for smacking other children when they get a smack from their parents...

[Dominic Harper]

This depends really. Are we talking smacking a little child or a child of around 8 or 9. My great nephew was caught smashing windows and he was only 6 years of age. He and a couple of his friends decided to throw stones at some windows at the school that had closed next to his school. He was also in school at the time of this event occuring, gladly they were all caught doing this. Now when the school contacted all the childrens parents and they had to come in to the school and speak with the headmaster, he new he was in serious trouble and when he got home he was sent to his room, all his games etc were taken away and he was told to write down some thoughts as to why he did this, Marcus was very upset by what he had been through and that was enough to shock him, did this have the same impact on the the other children involved. I really don't know. Now would it be wise to smack him for doing what he did? I don't believe a smack would of made any difference, I think the taking away his priveledges and being grounded for a month, and no pocket money or games was far more effective than giving him a smack and then the next day all is forgotten. Ok Marcus, you got a good hiding last night, you can go out tonight because you have done your punishment? That doesn't make sense. I think it is far more effective to hit them were it hurts, taking away there favourite console, laptop, toys, pocket money and more than anything there freedom for a couple of weeks, whilst explaining that if you do bad/naughty things you will be punished, and this is the type of punishment to expect as you will loose your freedom, but obviously without scaring the child half to death. However, if you are talking 13 or 14 years olds, I'm all for boot camps and teaching kids dicipline. But that is just my opinion. I'm sure it can be very difficult for some parents, especially single parents when dealing with teenagers, but what is the answer when dealing with unruly children? I don't think smacking a teenager for example would do anything, but I would also be afraid in case they smacked me back:lol:. It's a bit trickie, but I say if you dicipline a child when they are young by taking away priviledges, you have some chance of assembling self respect in the child and also encouraging them to show respect.

Thats a little of what I think, but I'm no expert.

Natalie;)

[Ali Tait]

That's pretty much been my take on it Natalie. My daughter is now 19 and is lovely balanced person.

[RochaCullen]

This is an interesting one. Its not an issue for me as yet, as my little fella is only just one year old. But as he gets older, I wonder how we are going to administer discipline.

I think, Natalie, you make total sense. When it came to the big things, my father, who was fairly big on smacking :steam:, would not bother with smacking as he knew that we knew (i.e., my siblings and I) there were going to be long term consequences. And there were consequences.

For me, I would say that is the main factor, teaching kids there are consequences to wrong doing by fastidiously following up and bringing about suitable consequences to willful wrongdoing.

Its funny that you mentioned breaking windows. As I recall the one and only window I broke. It ended up getting back to my father and I thought I was totally for it when I got home. Upon return home, my father sat me down and said, "You can have one", and qualified this by saying that everybody breaks one window in their life, after which he assured me that if I went on to break any more I'd be in deep do-do.

Nathan

[Alex_UK]

he knew that we knew (i.e., my siblings and I) there were going to be long term consequences. And there were consequences.

That to me is far more important than the issue of a smack or not - if you make a threat or a promise, then you have to deliver (i.e. you can only have a sweet if you eat all our peas) - they are tricky little blighters and if you show them a chink in your armour they will find your weaknesses! :lol:

[morris_minor]

That to me is far more important than the issue of a smack or not - if you make a threat or a promise, then you have to deliver (i.e. you can only have a sweet if you eat all our peas) - they are tricky little blighters and if you show them a chink in your armour they will find your weaknesses! :lol:
My 8 yr old daughter has a memory like an elephant for such things as discipline of her and her older brother. If we're not consistent there's trouble :eek:. But ask her what she did at school today, and it's "dunno, can't remember". :lol:

[Mr Nad]

I would like to add that I do NOT smack my children.

But I DO follow through with the punishments I say I'll mete out. All too often, parents threaten a consequence, then don't follow it through.