Would you SLAP your child..?

[Converge]

I think i would, and i also think they need to bring back the cane in schools, that'd help sort out the little unruly buggers.

 

[Nebzor]

Obviously the first. And he's right... if you can control your kids without hitting them then you are a better parent in that respect.

The point is that parents since time immemorial have probably smacked their children when they've been especially naughty.

It is simply another tool in the parent's 'arsenal' of discipline, if you like. Great for you if your children don't require it but that doesn't automatically make you any better as a parent than someone who does smack their child when they've been very naughty.

 

[matt_fsr]

Whenever I thought the situation required, yes. I've only really smacked the young un once. He'd run into the road without even a cursory glance at what was coming.

He hasn't done it since.

This makes sense. There's no point slapping your kids for anything (disclaimer: i havent got any, and dont want!) - but I think for serious things, messing around with plug sockets/kettles, near roads etc - If used sensibly, it's sometimes needed to get across a serious message.

You cant explain 1 ton death-by-car to a 3 year old using words, despite what the NSPCC etc seem to think

 

[Kainz]

I'd get belts to my rear end as a kid from my father but it kept be on the proper track, so yes I would. 33 and don't have kiddies yet btw.
I did punch my mate once in the face...but that was because he killed me in target renegade hmm

 

[Witor]

Yep ive got a kid, and another one on the way, so imo...

Slap my child, as in a proper slap? No. A little smack on the arse if they've completely disrespected, ignored (repeatedly) something you asked them to do, is acceptable to me.

Obviously one must use their brain if it gets to this stage. 99% of the time my daughter can be brought into line with a look, or a stern voice. Sometimes, a quick smack on the rear is what it takes to make them snap out of it. More shock value, than pain. Probably only done this 2 or 3 times iirc, but, one occasion was crossing the road. Obviously a 2.5 year old holds a parents hands, which she normally does, but when, for no apparent reason the little one decides to pull away from you and drop to the floor whilst crossing the road, a quick solution is needed.

Not done it since, I might add.

 

[Abraham]

Perhaps those who advocate slapping kids would like to be slaped by a 12-20 foot giant?

I'd be surprised if most of those advocating it here weren't slapped/smacked as a child, which is obviously the comparison you're trying to make

 

[something daft already!!]

I interpret that as you saying that parents who smacked their children are somehow worse parents than you? Or that children that have been smacked are somehow especially naughty?

What?

I am saying that it is not nessasary to hit a child to make it behave. It is simple psycology. If you cant make a child behave without hitting it, you are doing something wrong or have anger issues which need examining. I have never hit either of my kids, well I say kids, my daughter is now 18 and son's 15 so they are hardly kids any more.

I recall my father beating me as a child and it's not something I would ever want my children to remember about me.

 

[arknor]

Obviously the first. And he's right... if you can control your kids without hitting them then you are a better parent in that respect.

all kids are different do you have kids?

our first child behaved and listened to us but our second child was a nightmare when he was 2-3 years old hes a bit beter now hes nearly 5 but it can be dificult getting him to do anything at times.

you may think you can mold a child to be how you would like but they all have different personalities and you cant really force them to think and act like you want.

im sure there are some crazy serial killers that had perfectly happy childhoods i wouldnt always be so quick to blame the parents

 

[chipperhead]

I've a 5yr old and a 2yr old, never slapped them, infact never even been close to slapping them.
I wasn't hit as a child either (well not that I can remember).

 

[Abraham]

I am saying that it is not nessasary to hit a child to make it behave. It is simple psycology. If you cant make a child behave without hitting it, you are doing something wrong or have anger issues which need examining. I have never hit either of my kids, well I say kids, my daughter is now 18 and son's 15 so they are hardly kids any more.

I recall my father beating me as a child and it's not something I would ever want my children to remember about me.

there is a big difference between being beaten and being smacked though. I agree it's not the best approach or even a favoured one, but I think the number of people simply being smacked has had an adverse affect on is few and far between, within a time scale I can remember, so maybe over the age of 5, I can probably count the number of times I was smacked on one hand, and those times along with general life didnt make me scared of my parents in the slightest, but definitely made me scared of getting in trouble with them.

 

[icey_haj]

Definitely slap them, if needed.

With the threat of an ass-whooping in the back of your mind, you're less likely to do stupid things. Worked with me and most people I know anyway.

 

[Witor]

and those times along with general life didnt make me scared of my parents in the slightest, but definitely made me scared of getting in trouble with them.

Absolutely. Probably because your Parents explained exactly why they thought they had to smack you...or you yourself realised why it got to that point.

It's when kids get smacked for the smallest thing, and/or in an inconsistant manner that a real problem arises.

 

[mrk]

A few clips round the ears or moderate wooden spoon strikes to the palms are all that's needed to condition a naughty child into not doing the naughty thing they did tbh. Tough love has always worked for probably all cultures historically and only in recent times has it failed due to changes in the law.....shame, it might well have sorted out the ASBO behaviour we have in most towns.

It's all **** parenting these days and it's only going to get worse for those people and their kids who receive even worse parenting.

 

[Scott Salisbury]

Not on the face. But yes, discipline is necessary in certain few instances to prevent further action, discipline is a learning action that a child should face.

Yep same, I was slapped as a kid, usually the bottom or the hand. Never the head or face area. And I hated it, so much that I never did whatever it was again.

Job done.

 

[Tobes]

No I wouldn't as I don't see why you need to cause pain (short and brief) to discipline your child. There are other ways. Taking away my pc would be a good one for me lol.

I was slapped as a child. Once too much and caused a member of the public to get involved. Was the last time I was smacked as a kid.

We don't beat up prisoners and tell them what they did was bad. So why it's OK to do slap our kids I have no idea. Fair enough we are not causing damage but it is quite intimidating and you're using fear.

I dunno... maybe I'm just a girl. But that's a bad memory I have of my Dad and it's not one I would want my kids to have of me.

 

[chimponarope]

If the situation called for it, quite possibly. More often than not just a shout/look/stern talking to etc will work. It'd have to be a good reason to do it though. I mean yesterday i'm sure most parents would have warmed his backside for him, but just telling him what he'd done sorted it out.

I mean yesterday he flooded the bathroom from having a shower with the door open, he just didn't think it through properly. Just seeing how close the water came to the light fittings downstairs scared the daylights out of him, he started crying saying he might have blown the house up. Not going to wallop him for that, was a mistake he won't do it again.

 

[krooton]

I have no problem with if used in the correct circumstances.

The holier-than-thou attitude borne by howiepoohs is pretty much directly attributed to the father doing beatings.

I got spanked by my mom if I was especially naughty, and even got the cane a few times in primary school before corporal punishment was abolished. Pretty much all of my friends had the odd spank as a kid, and we have all turned out perfectly fine.

It's all subjective though, there is no hard right/wrong rule for this kinda of thing, but the softy-softy people will always slate the others about being 'worse parents'

 

[arknor]

The holier-than-thou attitude borne by howiepoohs is pretty much directly attributed to the father doing beatings.

I got spanked by my mom if I was especially naughty, and even got the cane a few times in primary school before corporal punishment was abolished. Pretty much all of my friends had the odd spank as a kid, and we have all turned out perfectly fine.

this.

a lot of you seem to think because your own parents went to far when you were a child anyone who admits they might at a last resort slap there own children is suddenly some child beater who enjoys making there own kids lives a missery.

all these super nanny program are all well and good but anyone with real kids will know beeing told to do by a stranger generally results in the child doing exactly as they are told where as beeing told of by someone they know wont always make them listen.

 

[gillywibble]

Corporal punishment used correctly is an essential learning tool for a child.

 

[aayzof]

I would never smack my children.