Do you believe in spanking as a form of discipline for children?

I'm not the best person to answer this. I do know that for very young children 2 or 3, when they cannot understand certain things it is useful. I have heard when a child runs into the street or put their hand on the stove a quick spank is a good think. They don't understand 'Don't do that or a car will come and run you over and you'll get hurt.' But they can make the running to the street, moms spanks my butt. Won't do that again.

Now, otherwise any physical punishment I think is inappropriate. But like I said, I shouldn't be the one you ask because I was beat pretty severely by two teachers under the guise of 'paddling'. It was pretty traumatic so the topic makes me sort of cringe a bit.

No of course not. Everybody knows that's just an urban myth. Spanking isn't a form of discipline, it's a form of entertainment!

I believe that there are often times that a young child could do with a smack on the bottom. There is never a time, however, for a child to be hit hard across the face or head or anything like that. It's finding the middle ground and that's hard to do, hence why I don't disagree entirely with it being against the law in the UK to spank children.

Not really but in some rare situations; it does works.

> No of course not. Everybody knows that's just an urban myth. Spanking
> isn't a form of discipline, it's a form of entertainment!


I see you've been doing some thinking again...

Yes. This can be the only way they can be behave.

Yes, I believe some people spank their kids as a form of punishment. I'm dubious that it's a good idea though. Certainly after the kid is about 8 years old, spanking is no longer useful.

No, I don't believe it's a good thing to do - but I do believe it happens

Good survey question... While I dont have children yet, I find it hard to answer this debatable topic.. I am geared to no.. that there must be another way.. yet both my parents spanked me and my brother any time we were extremely naughty...we would be put on the bed and told to get our pants down and mom would go to town.. she hated it after and felt horrible.. but stood strong in the way of discipline.. Dad would get the belt out and snap it to make us frightened.. it worked too.. we were angels most of the time.. these events did happen but certainly not frequently.. Funny thing is though.. both my parents were raised in quiet households by parents who didnt believe in using force as a punishment.. I think mom feels guilty about it now.. but it worked...we were easy kids... SHe was Lucky!!!

Thats horrible.. Teachers shouldnt have the right to do that to the kids.. poor you! THat must have been really degrading and crap.. Obviously that wouldnt happen in this day and age.. actually its gone quite overboard now in some respects.. teachers are not even allowed to give kids cuddles or put band-aids on them over here... but It was really bad in the 40's to 60's with discipline in the schools.. especially Roman Catholic schools.. Ive heard some stories.. very unpleasant.!!! OOOOUCH!

Not only is it a suitable form of discipline for children, I'd recommend it as a form of discipline for some adults too.

I don't believe in it.



If I had a dollar for every mother I've seen do something like this: "Stop hitting people!!! SSSSMMMMMAAAACK!!"

I know from experience... If you don't hit your children and raise them with love and patience, they rarely give you a reason to even consider hitting them.

My daughter is not spanked, and she is almost never bad.... The thought of her mommy hitting her would horrify her.

Why would we hit people we love?

ideally no. Realisticly, I think the negative consequences of it are overblown. Its kind of like when they tell you you shouldn't watch too much tv, too much violence, or you should eat this and that because its bad for you or your kid. Yes, perhaps its bad, but they tend to exaggerate the damage. I mean watching the road runner is not going to turn your kid into a serial killer.

I think its the same with spanking. I mean you should avoid it if possible, but don't beat yourself up if you woop your kid once or twice. There are far more worse ways to screw them up.

So what if you're being bad and don't do the dishes or something. Do you get a spanking from your girlfriend.

You know how people often say, "I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you"?

Well, I could tell you, but then she would kill me.

Yes, if it's appropriate in a particular situation.

I believe it is acceptable only as a last resort and it should never be done in anger. Also I do not believe a person should spank with an object other than the hand and only on the butt. Other wise it is abuse in my option.

Yes, but not as the main form of discipline. I rarely spank Caleb and when I do, he knows that it's because he's pushed it too far. I've never spanked him in anger. And, I don't spank in the traditional sense. My idea of spanking is one or two pops on the butt. It's more of an attention getter, not to hurt him or anything. Recently, I went through a phase when I didn't spank him, no matter what, because it always makes me feel like crap. Well, he couldn't figure it out. He decided I was a bad mother because good mothers spank their kids. Um.........okay.

I don't believe in that either!

Yes, I do. Not for everyday discipline obviously, but I do think light smacking is acceptable under certain circumstances.

Aw Zang! I can't wait to meet you!! Bear hugs required!!

Maybe..I don't particularly like being spanked though..Not that that's happened since I was five anyway..
I'm a good kid most of the time..
Back in the day when I would be spanked it would be because I'd beat up on my brother.., dump baby powder on the kitchen floor..(dunno if I got spanked for that though..but there is a video of me explaining what happened and my brother stomping in it..), ooh yeah..and me putting my mom's face stuff in the top of the toilet..(She woke me up at 1100.., dragged me out of bed to fish it out, then spanked me..haha..)
But now if I'm ''bad'' which rarely ever happens I just get stuff taken away..
I mean, if I was to be spanked now..it'd be kind of wrong on a few levels..
But I don't think I was spanked more than five times in my life..

I think it's been done again much more recently. Probably under a slightly different phrasing.

Anyway... in general, no. I think that it's done too easily, too much in anger. That said, I think there may be situations where the only way to discipline a child may be to spank. But those situations are so rare and parents are so unlikely to actually use spanking appropriately, that I don't think it's a good idea at all.

> Maybe..I don't particularly like being spanked
> though..

I think that's the point!

You sure?

No. Discipline them in some other ways. Grownups beating on little kids is abusive and traumatic to the child. Not only could you injure or even kill a kid by hitting them too hard, but you could damage them emotionally -- they might grow up beating on their own kids just because it was done to them. It just doesn't seem right to me.

Yes, I believe in spanking as a form of discipline, but as a last resort.

Let me put this into its proper context. spanking should not be a daily or a regular occurrence. Ever. Talk to them and listen in a non-judgmental fashion. You'll get them to where you want them to be.

I see too many parents today who do not discipline their kids, regardless of how bratty their spawn is. Many kids today don't have any respect for anything or anyone because Mom and Dad aren't doing their job. Kids know their parents' threats are empty, that Mom and Dad are afraid of their kids, because the kids have been told that they can call children's aid if mommy or daddy raise their voice to them or some other form of "abuse." (Have you ever heard the one where Mom says "Timmy, go to your room", and Timmy replies "Fudge off, mom"?)

How many of us (30 years and older) have been spanked during our childhood? A lot. And how many of those spanked became abusive and delinquent? Not many. On the other hand, children who are raised without discipline and the notion of consequences test their parents limits over and over to see what they can get away with.

A kid's job is to find out what his/her limits are, and to do the best he/she can within those limits. The parent's job is to let them know where the limits are and to guide that kid toward excellence. Limits are relative, depending on the parent and the kid.

Spanking should be part of a parent's toolbox, but only in case of severe emergency.

If it wasn't clear enough before I am not advocating spanking your children as the preferred form of discipline. Talking to your kids is the best way to gain their trust and to raise them in a healthy and safe environment.

I am expecting one or two rockets for my position on this, and I suspect that a few non-parents are probably biting their upper lip in anticipation of pushing the send button on their particular rocket. It's amazing how superior they would be as parents if they actually had kids. Bring it on, I say. Rant over, rant out!

In my toolbox, I have the oft-mentioned, never seen 'spanking spoon'. And this is probably the last year that I can use the "Do I have to phone Santa?" line.

Yes - children need to learn that there are consequences for their actions....corporal punishment is one form of consequence...with that said, it should only be used when appropriate and then only in such a way as to create short term, moderate pain - not as a tool of manipulation.

Yes. I'm looking forward to it too. I might even vacuum my apartment!

When did you get a vacuum cleaner?!?

*scoffs* I didn't get no stinking vacuum cleaner! I fully intend to borrow one. I've been making inquiries for some time now...

You have 2 months left!

I'll wait until the last minute so it's nice and clean!

You're so considerate!

I don't think I'll be 'spanking' my children

Spanking is stupid.

"believe in spanking...", no.

I was spanked exactly once in my life. I am not one of those who say that was too often. (But I think that was often enough .) I don't want to make a dogma of it, but I find it difficult not to think the education failed when adults spank children.

No, I really don't.

Awww geeze I spanked my kid twice. Once when she wrestled out of my hand and angerly ran away from me in front of a car. Another time she ran away in a store and hid from me. She was young at the time. I would never do it now, I can get her attention in other ways.

Yes, but only done properly. No anger or beatings!

It does work for respect but it's more of a call for desperation.
You have to be firm without going past the line.
You don't want your children to be afraid of you.

I just successfully borrowed a vacuum cleaner. I fully intend to begin using it tomorrow!

I've already scrubbed the floors on my hands and knees!

You did that for little ol' me? You're just too sweet Zang! And don't you feel better walking barefoot now?

Not until I've vacuumed. I've got little plastic widgets from the bottom of my old plastic mat...you know those ones you put under office chairs? The pointy things that hold it to the carpet...they all broke off my old one. Nasty things to step on!

Okay, I just talked to Sue. It looks like we've confirmed sushi at English Bay. I suggested we meet at the Sylvia Hotel for an apéritif and then go from there. Aim for noon Sunday.

http://www.sylviahotel.com/

Sounds great! Can't wait!

Yes, I believe in the judicial use spanking, or threat of spanking, as a form of discipline.

Yes of course, Spanking a child will guide him/her in the right direction only if it's been done with love and explanation. I believe a child needs to know why he/she is being spank for.

I grew up with spanking and it did wonders on my behavior . It worked and was very common at that time you were held responsible for your actions and learned from it quicker.

I was spanked now and then by my mom with the hairbrush and while I didn't particularly like the experience, especially when she took my pants down. But that's the way things were when I was a kid, spanking was an accepted practice. The sound of a spanking taking place in our neighborhood did not attract much attention from anyone.

Time outs? That was the period of time you spent in your room recovering and regaining your composure after a lickin' with the strap from dad, or a thorough hiney warming from mom with the hairbrush.

Yes, as long as it does not become abuse. Bare bottom spanking over the knee is acceptable for under 12 yrs. Naked from waist down and sometimes even completely naked bend over the bed or on the bed is acceptable for teen boys after puberty . A belt or strap should be used on teens and should always be done in the privacy of the bedroom. Careful explaination afterwards is necessary.

YES. Spanking is an excellent discipline. I was spanked growing up, and I spank my little girls when they need it, which, after the first few times, quickly became far less. They are well-behaved and very polite.