Thread: To smack or not to smack?

A recent article on an Australian news website said the the UN is unhappy with Australia because the New South Wales Government is refusing to outlaw smacking.
Aussie parents to defy UN smacking ban | News.com.au

Occasionally this issue would come up on talk back radio. Every time it did it would be a very contentious issue.

So what do you think? Should smacking be banned? Do you, or have you used smacking with your children? Were you smacked?

And just to clarify my position, I think it is good for a child to get a firm smack when they are miss behaving.

If by smack you are referring to spanking, IOW, a whack on the bottom I am for it. As a kid I got 'smacked' in the face every so often and I don't recommend that. As for corporal punishment, the bible says,"Foolishness is in the heart of a child and the rod of correction will drive it far from him." OTOH, I'm not for beating a kid within an inch of his life or terrorizing them. Discipline applied responsibly by caring parents is a good thing IMO.

when the UN finally grows a backbone about child labour in Asia, child soldiers in Africa, child prostitution in the Philippines and outright child murder in Afghanistan, then maybe I might give them the time of day on spanking in a developed country.

I am not a fan of smacking (or spanking), and did not use it on my children (now grown). Having said that, I'm opposed to the UN, NGOs or any governmental body intruding into a one's personal business. There is a difference between physical discipline and physical abuse, and as long as that line is not crossed, outsiders should 1) shut their cake holes and 2) butt out.

Our children were disciplined with a spanking when they were small and they turned out fine. Animals will cuff their young when they do something they should not be doing. A parent that will not correct their children does not care about them.

It's not a beating but discipline. They will remember it fondly when they are older.

As others have said, I disagree with it personally, but I don't think it's so damaging to the child that it should be banned, as long as the parent keeps a cool head and never hits in anger. A light smack or spanking has done plenty of kids good.

Originally Posted by Desdinova

when the UN finally grows a backbone about child labour in Asia, child soldiers in Africa, child prostitution in the Philippines and outright child murder in Afghanistan, then maybe I might give them the time of day on spanking in a developed country.

This, so so much. We're worrying about parents giving their kids a swat on the cheek while children in China are dying of cancer after picking through exposed waste material from "recycled" electronics from the developed world?

Just ridiculous.

Some times necessary, never face or head though.
A one time slap on the butt is good enough for long lasting effect.
After certain age its completely useless and only can instill negative feelings in the kids towards the parents.
Those that made the law have to try and remeber how much spanking they have had as kids before try and tell others what is good and what not.

To smack or not to smack.....

How do you teach HOT to a toddler?

Some times a stinging smack is necessary. This is in contrast to
a bruising bashing. Sadly too many do not know the difference.

But what do they recommend? Some verbal abuse is more
durable and much more difficult to overcome. I know of individuals
that have been so verbally abused that they are socially handicapped
fifty years later.

I have a sticker on this laptop:
"Wag more bark less".

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Discipline applied responsibly by caring parents is a good thing IMO.

Jimmy, I've never heard parenting theory said better.

It depends on the child. It will help to correct bad behaviour in some kids but not in others. Consistency is the key. Sometimes the parents are more out of control than the kids.
We are now seeing a generation of parents which has been infantilised, they've not really become adults themselves. Smacking becomes a form of retribution rather than firm guidance.