by Pookie Bear on April 10th, 2007

Pookie Bear

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Smacking children- right or wrong?

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  • by Cramidy on July 2nd, 2007

    Cramidy

    My dad used to spank us... even used the belt on us when when REALLY screwed up. I was never afraid of him; he always made a point of teaching us why what we did merrited a spanking. Personally, i think parents nowadays have gotten so caugh up in the uber sensitive psycological deal that kids get away with a lot more.
    As far as abuse: there is a fine line. The biggest difference between abuse and punishment is intent and anger; striking a child in anger is quite diferent from spanking a child who attempted to steal a candy.

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  • by Will on November 23rd, 2007

    Will

    A litlle spanking is fine. Beating them is not good and illegal.

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  • by judgebill on February 28th, 2009

    judgebill

    Of course not. What could be "wrong" about a six foot, 200 pound parent whalling away at a two-foot, 30 pound child? Spanking satisfies the spanker, not the spankee. Consider how you would teach a dog. Would you beat the dog if he/she didn't do what you wanted or would you try loving correction? Why in God's name would anyone believe it is proper to strike a child to teach a lesson? To me, spanking is nothing more than an admission of total and complete failure on the part of the parent to properly set examples and teach a child. Give love, hugs, more love and more hugs. In my book, spanking is never justified. Never!

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  • by Jade on July 1st, 2008

    Jade

    When all else fails, usually a swat on the bottom with an open hand will get their attention..and which, by the way, usually hurts the hand more than the bottom.

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  • by Djinn on October 3rd, 2009

    Djinn

    OMG wow. Spanking is not only right it's the responsible thing to do for most families (I can only speak for America as far as data is concerned). I'm not gonna sit here and fill the page with incorrect garbage being presented as fact.

    The facts are that actually psycho-social study shows that spanking improves the BPI of children but only if it is a social norm for that social group.

    Therefore the answer isn't No or Yes, it's maybe. It all depends on who you are. A Dr. Hendy study showed that most American whites that don't live in Urban areas shouldn't spank as it is not a social norm. Children from white suburban families that where spanked ended up with anti-social issues and an increase in BPI.

    Children from American Black families both urban and suburban where fine because it is a social norm for them. Children from black families showed a decrease in BPI if they where spanked.

    Interestingly enough children who where spanked regardless of background showed less likely to get into trouble with the law, and also did not feel as if they could skirt the law or do something wrong and not serve a physical consequence as adults.

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  • by The Boss on March 14th, 2009

    The Boss

    I dont think its a good way to teach you child. Then they grow up thinking that if someone is doing something wrong its ok to hit them. You have to lead by example and teach them that its never ok to hit

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  • by Yarnlady is happy every day on March 14th, 2009

    Yarnlady is happy every day

    I would not use the word wrong to describe why you should not spank. If you are trying to instill the correct behavior in your child, hitting them is quick and effecient, but mostly teaches fear of getting caught, and it's OK to hit.

    A much better lesson is when they learn to choose not to behave badly because it wrong, rather than because they are afraid.

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  • by Anon on March 6th, 2009

    Anon

    It's barbaric.

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  • by TheAnswerer on November 23rd, 2007

    TheAnswerer

    No.
    As long as you don't kill the kid, you should be fine.

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  • by peterpam on July 2nd, 2007

    peterpam

    I think if I tried it now their husbands would have something to say to me!

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  • by Gonforgood on March 14th, 2009

    Gonforgood

    No, spankings are not wrong if balanced with love. Whenever I have to spank my daughter I wait for her to cry it out then tell why what she did was wrong tell her I love her and give her a big hug. I also think the punishment should fit the crime, she only gets one if what she did could have really hurt her or someone else. All other offenses are the corner or her room. We always get comments about how outgoing and well behaved she is.

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  • by FaerieWhings on December 10th, 2007

    FaerieWhings

    It depends on the type of spanking, how often the spanking happens and the reason for the spanking.

    I think that spanking is a valid punishment for certain offenses and for certain children. If you are going to spank you have to make sure that you use it sparingly and explain in detail why the kid got spanked.

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  • by Snowman on November 23rd, 2007

    Snowman

    No. I don't think the government has any business telling me how to raise my children.

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  • by thekingcobra63 on November 23rd, 2007

    thekingcobra63

    no.

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  • by Feller on November 23rd, 2007

    Feller

    We don't smack our kids,we spank them.it is about respect and instilling manners .If you stop disciplining your kids .the world will discipline them,and trust me the world will not be loving about it.

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  • by Pogster on April 23rd, 2007

    Pogster

    If, by "smack", you mean striking in the face, my answer is that it is "wrong".

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  • by Ren on September 19th, 2009

    Ren

    Smacking children is entirely ethical. It just depends on the place and the severity and such. You don't beat the crap out of them by any means, that's child abuse. I find it annoying when people assume that smacking a child every once in a while is abusive. If the kid does something wrong, let them know. Smack them just hard enough that they know what they did was wrong, and maybe they won't do it again, unless they're little masochistic children..

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  • by mom3b on July 11th, 2009

    mom3b

    smacking in anger- wrong
    smacking on the butt after warnings- sometimes ok

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  • by Adz3r0 on July 11th, 2009

    Adz3r0

    WAY WRONG - NO MATTER HOW GOOD IT FEELS!

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  • by bagicide stayed 10 months too long on July 11th, 2009

    bagicide stayed 10 months too long

    Hauling off and hitting the kid because you are frustrated with them is absolutely wrong.

    Spending the time to teach the kid right from wrong as well as what you expect from them, and then spanking them under carefully controlled conditions when they have purposely done the opposite is right under some circumstances.

    I know that current thinking is that there are better ways to discipline a child that just take longer. In practice they often mean that all of the family time is taken up by discipline and there is no happy family time. In reality, it ends up with stressed parents and stressed kids that often don't like each other very much. In reality, it often ends up with parents wishing they'd never had kids and kids being very aware that their parent's feel that way, even though the parents are kidding themselves that they've kept it to themselves. There is nothing better about stressed kids who know they aren't wanted.

    I don't see anything wrong with setting careful limits about how spanking will happen and sticking to them. No you don't want to beat a child. But if you decide before hand what the parameters for the spanking are and stick to it, you aren't likely to cross that line. If you spank the child, more than likely they won't want that to happen again, and that will be the last time you have to punish them for that particular transgression. Spanking done right should taper off very quickly. You might spank several times a day at first, but it should quickly taper off to several times a week and then several times a month and then several times a year, and then not at all. The child should quickly become self-governing and rarely need interference from an adult to stay out of trouble. If you have taken the time to give the child moral training and to make your expectations clear, the child should quickly be able to evaluate his or her own behavior and modify it to expectations.

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  • by I know the Truth on March 19th, 2009

    I know the Truth

    Sometimes spankings are necessary. Love should be the motivating factor.

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  • by MRSHINYSHOES on March 14th, 2009

    MRSHINYSHOES

    I would say they are, and should not BEGIN at ANY age.

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  • by Twhupfold on December 10th, 2007

    Twhupfold

    Wrong.

    A smack is by-definition a hard blow. When done to a child the only conceivable reasons are punishment, teaching a lesson, or sadism.

    Deliberately inflicting pain to non-consenting parties is by-definition malevolent behaviour.

    A beating is defined as a series of blows intended as either punishment or an act of aggression.

    Therefore smacking a child is the deliberate act of malevolently beating them - that is not just wrong, it is illegal.

    *****

    If you aren't smacking them (a smack is a hard blow), then leave me alone - I'm not talking about you. I really, really don't want over-zealous parents yelling at me AGAIN because they can't read what I've written. It's very frustrating.

    *****

    There's nothing wrong with a slap on the wrist to let them know they've done something wrong - the saying 'a slap on the wrist' has entered into the English language to mean 'a light, harmless punishment' - it is therefore NOT smacking, NOT malevolent, and NOT a beating, and therefore --N--O--T-- what I'm talking about.

    *****

    Smacking children - Wrong.

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  • by Mrs.Dufresne on November 23rd, 2007

    Mrs.Dufresne

    I think smacking anyone should be banned.

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  • by Rage Of Reason on November 23rd, 2007

    Rage Of Reason

    I'm all in favor of corporal punishment so long as it isn't taken the point of abuse. We have too many children these days that have no concept of "cause & effect" or "consequences for their actions" because parents are so fearful of actually punishing their children in a way that will make a differenc in their behavior.

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  • by Cantras on November 23rd, 2007

    Cantras

    I think that depends on your definition of smacking. If you're raising your hand to your child's face, you're doing it in anger and you need to get a grip. Spanking, however, I do think has a place. Sometimes. If you have to do it more than a few times in your kid's life, you're using it wrong; if you ever leave a mark on the kid or cause any more pain than a rough high-five, you're doing it wrong.

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  • by Lady Alathia of Vulcan on November 23rd, 2007

    Lady Alathia of Vulcan

    Define "smack"

    I think a good butt-spanking can be necessary once in a while... but I am absolutely NO advocate of beating children, slapping them in the face, or using any type of weapon (i.e.: wooden spoon, remote control, "switch", or belt)

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  • by Carmella on July 2nd, 2007

    Carmella

    Smacking is wrong. It shows you've lost your temper or you can't control your own emotions so are passing that onto the child in the way of a physical punishment, whether it's ''just a tap'' or not isn't the point, it's the principle behind it...you're projecting your own emotions onto someone else because you can't deal with them.

    Women (and men) go mad when they think people are getting away with domestic violence in the home. Hitting children is no better. Saying it teaches them something is the same as saying ''my wife didn't get my dinner ready the way I wanted it, so I hit her, but it was only a tap...she'll learn''.

    It's wrong on so many levels.

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  • by Eltinwe has a life Swan - DYOH on July 2nd, 2007

    Eltinwe has a life Swan -  DYOH

    Well, "smack" is a very nondescript term. If you mean slapping a hand to teach a very young child not to touch a hot stove, it's a good idea. Better than letting them learn to associate hot stoves with pain by letting them burn themselves. If you mean hitting them in any uncontrolled, angry, emotional way, just don't do it.

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  • by Sosueme on November 7th, 2009

    Sosueme

    I don't have children, but if I did, I'd teach them not to smack each other.

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  • by Daniela_15 on October 3rd, 2009

    Daniela_15

    I dont think its right. Theres plenty of ways to get a message across to children that doesnt involve hitting them. Its abuse. If u have to spank your child your obviously not a good parent because you cant control your child unless u raise a hand.

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  • by bye friends health problems on September 19th, 2009

    bye friends health problems

    No! Spanking or smacking a child is wrong and I have never done it to any of my kids and never will! All it does is lead to trouble later on in life and it is abusive to me!

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  • by Ridiculous on September 19th, 2009

    Ridiculous

    Smacking, Wrong.
    Spanking, ok. There's a big difference in spanking and abuse.

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  • by abby_thats my name.18 on July 11th, 2009

    abby_thats my name.18

    good....but only when they deserve it. I know that as a kid i deserved a good cuff upside the head.

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  • by thatsJustme on July 11th, 2009

    thatsJustme

    an undeserving smack? wrong.....
    sometimes they need a 'good' smack.....
    we all do....
    i say there are 2 key words here: loving or abusive.......

    and i do not equate slapping in the face with smacking on the butt or arm.....

    slaps are 'uncontrolled tempers'

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  • by LEO on April 7th, 2009

    LEO

    Only if there yours

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  • by Anonymous on March 19th, 2009

    Anonymous

    I believe it is wrong it could affect the poor kids future well being but for couples for foreplay before sex its OK.

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  • by notmeduh on March 19th, 2009

    notmeduh

    no. spankings are almost essential. without them, children will not learn discipline.

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  • by CaRbOnPrOdUcK is Baccuss on March 6th, 2009

    CaRbOnPrOdUcK is  Baccuss

    I'm not ever going to. Wrong for me, maybe not for you. Leave me out of it altogether. My kids never got hit. It's just too gross.

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  • by Countess Crapula on March 6th, 2009

    Countess Crapula

    My knee-jerk answer is NO. I think you have to talk to them like adults and make them understnat. But, I thing swattingthe bottom is ok. Face hitting, beating, using tools and cords is heinous and,.......grrrrr, I'm getting mad now. My mom used to beat the f**k out of me with anything she got her hands on. But that's how it was back then. Well, I don't forgive the dog leashes and the inch-thick, grounded extension cord. That's just madness.

    Overall, no, there are better ways of dealing with the little brats.

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  • by CT on March 6th, 2009

    CT

    Its a no no for me..I disagree with it..totally..

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  • by Digitalbum on March 6th, 2009

    Digitalbum

    I have never hit my kids and they are good kids.

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  • by --------- on March 6th, 2009

    ---------

    It depends:
    My dad whooped my ass 2 times (I had to learn it the hard way) : respect and no lies. I'm fine now, and I try to live by those values.

    My mom used to slap me all the time, it was totally useless. It did not make me the man I'm today.

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  • by anddeb on March 6th, 2009

    anddeb

    There is a proper Godly way to punish a child and that is not smacking or beating. the bible explains it all.

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  • by john pennington on March 6th, 2009

    john pennington

    Smacking a child in the face is not allowed, period.

    Spanking or a swat on the butt, works wonders for correcting a child.

    I have raised two children and two grandchildren that will agree.

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  • by racs on March 6th, 2009

    racs

    Spanking on the buttocks, an erogenous zone in childhood, can create in the child's mind an association between pain and sexual pleasure, and lead to difficulties in adulthood.
    Even relatively moderate spanking can be physically dangerous. Blows to the lower end of the spinal column send shock waves along the length of the spine, and may injure the child. The prevalence of lower back pain among adults in our society may well have its origins in childhood punishment. Some children have become paralyzed through nerve damage from spanking, and some have died after mild paddlings, due to undiagnosed medical complications.

    Physical punishment gives the dangerous and unfair message that "might makes right", that it is permissible to hurt someone else, provided they are smaller and less powerful than you are. The child then concludes that it is permissible to mistreat younger or smaller children. When he becomes an adult, he can feel little compassion for those less fortunate than he is, and fears those who are more powerful. This will hinder the establishment of meaningful relationships so essential to an emotionally fulfilling life.
    Anger and frustration are not easily expressed by a child, and keep festering within. One day your child will be old enough and strong enough to display his rage, and such rage is often directed towards parents who hit their children regularly and focus excessively on discipline. Punishment may appear to produce "good behavior" in the early years, but always at a high price, paid by parents and by society as a whole. An angry teenager who has been subject to regular beatings at home may grow up into an insensitive adult, who doesn�t think twice before beating up someone else. Such behaviour only increases violence in a society.

    Because children learn through parental modeling, physical punishment gives the message that hitting is an appropriate way to express feelings and to solve problems. If a child does not observe a parent solving problems in a creative and humane way, it can be difficult for him to learn to do this himself. For this reason, unskilled parenting often continues into the next generation.

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  • by Zaidii on March 6th, 2009

    Zaidii

    the more you beat children the more they will become rebellious, try to talk to them, try to give them an aim in life, for example if they are interested in a particular sport help them in learning about the game.

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  • by Gene H on February 6th, 2009

    Gene H

    No. Would you let your husband smack you?

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  • by wthing8 on November 19th, 2008

    wthing8

    We used to be beaten to sleep with broken bottles and it never did me never did me never did me any harm

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  • by baddbuoy on December 10th, 2007

    baddbuoy

    Leaving it to children to grow up pleasing themselves and maintaining an I'm-the-boss-of-me attitude - right or wrong? Smacking a child's bottom cuts right to the chase as far as demonstrating where the real authority lies in the parent/child relationship.

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You're reading Smacking children- right or wrong? - which can also be phrased in the following ways:

  • Do you think it is okay to smack children?
  • What do you think about smacking your child?
  • Do you think smacking your own child should be banned?
  • Is smacking your children right or wrong?
  • Are spankings wrong? If not, what age is it appropriate to stop?

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