Should we smack our children?

wretcheddomain

Note that I didn't place 'beat' in the thread title because it wouldn't be a controversial thread if there were unanimous agreement against that. However, there is dispute over whether we should even smack our kids as a disciplinary method. I'm sure most users here have gotten a whollop by Mammy or Daddy when they misbehaved, but do you think this is a necessary form of disciplinary action or merely just an effective one?

A lot of this talk has surged since the Boston bombings where people were questioning the role of parents in helping to prevent violence in their kids. Indeed, psychologists argue that "children's exposure to violence" are at a "greater risk for later violence";

Children's Exposure to Violence

Personally, I think a good whollop is never a bad thing as a disciplinary method nor did it ever do me any harm. I think I would have committed many more acts of sheer annoyance had my punishment merely only be standing in front of a wall for 30 minutes.

So what do you think?

johnayo

No

Celly Smunt

A smack never did me any wrong.

Praetorian Saighdiuir

15 A4 page essays are where it's at. Tell them each letter "A" is to be in red ink and each letter "C" is to be in black ink.

Then smack them when they get it wrong.

jaffacakesyum

No. The fact that "a smack never did me any harm when I was a kid" doesn't cut it.

There should be no need for it if you're a good parent. I never got hit when I was a kid and I was raised grand. Parents weren't perfect, but they didn't need to hit me to punish me.

Chucken

Never!

All that does is show a child that hitting is "ok" to get what you want and it also makes the adult a cowardly bully.

kingcobra

The threat of the wooden spoon is more than enough

wretcheddomain

Praetorian Saighdiuir wrote: »

Then smack them when they get it wrong.

So you're in favour of smacking one way or the other. :pac:

Dave!

wretcheddomain wrote: »

However, there is dispute over whether we should even smack our kids as a disciplinary method.

There is? Among who? Certainly not among people who work in child welfare.

wretcheddomain

Chucken wrote: »

All that does is show a child that hitting is "ok" to get what you want and it also makes the adult a cowardly bully.

But but...where's your evidence?

wretcheddomain

Dave! wrote: »

There is? Among who? Certainly not among people who work in child welfare.

The very fact we have a split poll ultimately means dispute exists among the populace. The people who work in child welfare as a small fraction of said populace.

Rayne Wooney

If you must resort to physically smacking as punishment you're doing something wrong in my opinion.

That's the way I see it. I'd never do it to a child. Other people may see it differently but that's up to them.

Re reg troll banned.

Thread locked.