Ask Me Help Desk - Should spanking a child be illegal?

Should spanking a child be illegal?

Do you think that spanking a child should be illegal?

No. The choice of discipline should be left up to the parent - not the government.

I do think there is a HUGE difference in spanking and beating. Abusing your child is against the law.

Spanking, no. Beating the livin' crap out of them to the point of physical injury, yes.

Spanking yes, beating no.
There are laws to protect the kids, because so many go way over board, so if it has to be illegal to protect them, then so be it...

Of course not, spanking is one of the best methods of displine that you can use with younger children.

Is that your religious point of view or personal point of view Fr_Chuck?

It may not be illegal but if some one reports it to Child protective services they most often do treat it like it is illegal and then you are put through hell over it. I know many people who are afraid to discipline their kids other than reward system because of CPS.

Both, and from Profession, having worked before in both public school, it was obvious there is little disipline in schools that do not allow spanking where they will not remove a child from a class.

And from work in the prisons and with police departments, while of course not 100 percent by any means, the lack of proper disipline in homes can be seen in the majority of the major social issues today.

If you had ever been taken behind the barn so to speak, you seldom did things to that point again.

Our complete criminal justice system works on that very idea, you do wrong, you will be punished, the worst you do, or the more you do it, the worst your punishment.

This is not beating, but a proper spanking works wonders and should be more the norm in society,

So based on the bible, u agree with the phrase "Spare the rod and spoil the child"?

Yes, a good switch to the rear of a child does not real harm, and a lot of good. Again this is not beating, and has to be done in the proper manner, at the right time.

And basically based on the quran, and the torah proper disipline is very important in child raising.

No, it should be a parents right to choose to disipline their children by spanking or not. I will say however that the palm of the hand fits just right on the cheek of the a**. I don't believe in using things like switches or spanking any where other than the butt or maybe a pop on the hand.
I seen a woman coming out of a store once with a child that was maybe five or 6. First she smacked him across the back of the head then yanked his arm upward till his feet left the ground. I felt so sorry for that poor kid!

Now I will even stop and "get on" a parent that ever hits a child in the face (slap) or back of head.

I think spanking should be illegal!! Hitting doesn't prove anything. It doesn't teach the child why what they are doing is wrong, it just teaches them that when they do it they get pain in return.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjl

I think spanking should be illegal!!!! Hitting doesn't prove anything. It doesn't teach the child why what they are doing is wrong, it just teaches them that when they do it they get pain in return.

So, when your child runs across the street and/or does something dangerous like that... you are going to give him/her a time out? :rolleyes:

A well placed swat on the rear is not abuse. You take that same hand and use across the face, that is abuse. Or you take that same hand and place a belt in it, that is abuse. If the parent cannot control their anger in lashing out at a child who has made a mistake, that is abuse. Discipline is not done in anger. I have seen too much, much too much of badly beaten children. When the parent has no self control, that parent needs the time-out!

Quote:

Originally Posted by shygrneyzs

A well placed swat on the rear is not abuse. You take that same hand and use across the face, that is abuse. Or you take that same hand and place a belt in it, that is abuse. If the parent cannot control their anger in lashing out at a child who has made a mistake, that is abuse. Discipline is not done in anger. I have seen too much, much too much of badly beaten children. When the parent has no self control, that parent needs the time-out!

A B S O L U T E L Y! ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sanjay Persad

Do you think that spanking a child should be illegal?

The bible tells you in proverbs if you spare the rod you will spoil the child and it will bring you to shame. The bible tells you to discipline your children not kill them so what form of spanking is used would really matter what would be illegal

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sanjay Persad

Do you think that spanking a child should be illegal?

Hello Sanjay:

Of course it should be illegal. Why would the most vulnerable amongst us be the only group who can be legally hit. I actually think it's kind of insane.

excon

Quote:

Originally Posted by excon

Hello Sanjay:

Of course it should be illegal. Why would the most vulnerable amongst us be the only group who can be legally hit. I actually think it's kinda insane.

excon

I don't consider a spanking a hit... (there is a difference between the two) but you are right, if you can't control it and it becomes a hit... then you, we have to make sure the most vulnerable are protected! Protecting the kids and supporting them is a very very important thing! I was spanked, hardly ever, but for what ever reason, I never did what I got one for again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sanjay Persad

Do you think that spanking a child should be illegal?

i think that beating a child with anything besides a belt and thats painful than a belt is illegal

I feel that this depends on the crime and the child. I have a nine year old who has NEVER been touched. She makes the honor roll... she helps with chores and she responds to being talked to and having things explained to her.
I am not saying that she will never be spanked but things have never gotten out of hand. Maybe it is luck or maybe I am dong the right thing.
Do what your heart tells you.

I don't believe spanking should be illegal. My child knows if he does something wrong he will get one warning. If he does it again he gets a spanking and a time out. I use both forms of punishment so he will learn he is not to do that certain thing again. I remember when I was little, maybe 7 or 8, my mom was getting on to me for doing something and I called her a f'ng b!tch. She slapped me hard in the mouth. I was mad at the time but now that I can look back on that, I believe I deserved it. Mind you I never talked back to my momma again. ;)

Do I think that hitting is right? No. But do I think that spanking should be made illegal. No. I agree with Start on this. There is a difference between a swat on the rump and a slap across the face. I can tell you the one and only time that I was spanked, it was because I tried putting something in an outlet. My dad swatted me then. I was NEVER hit.

I also believe that spankings, if given, should be given at home. Teachers or other professionals should not be allowed to give corporal punishment.

FYI I am a teacher

I think a tap on the butt is appropriate for younger kids, but as they get older talking should be all you need, if you have guided them well when they were smaller. Even with a smack on the butt, they have to know why you took that action, so to teach them smack and talk, and no it should not be left to government, how you disipline your kids. Your crazy if you think anyone will run my home but me, especially not some smart a$$ brats.

I don't think spanking is right. My father did that to me. Every time he got mad at me, and I had no choice but to walk past him, I always flinched. And hesitated that he would spank me. I don't think you want your kids to be afraid of you now would you?

Spanking shouldn't be used for every day types of situations, for you to flinch when you walk by your father... that is scary, and I am sorry to hear that.

I think there are to many peopl out there who do cross the line and harm or hurt there children but turn around and say its discipline I don't agree with spanking I have a 3 year old and have found many other methods besides spanking or harming my child in any way she is not out of control or running all over me so I think that if you have to spank that its sad that an adult has to resort to acting like a child to get there point across it's a no win situation and if you do cross the line you deserve to be in jail

Saying too many cross the line, so there should be no spanking is like saying too many people speed, so no one should drive,

Spanking properly is a very good method and is not acting like a child but rather perhaps acting like a parent and doing proper disipline to help raise a child properly.

And those that do cross the line, do go to jail,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck

Spanking properly is a very good method and is not acting like a child but rather perhaps acting like a parent and doing proper disipline to help raise a child properly.

Proper discipline? I think that is a matter of opinion. Spanking children should be a last resort, in my opinion.

Yes, a last resort, but always a open option to be done.

Only when they are young
- as a last means
- with several pre warnings
- never out of anger
- never as a habit

I am very short fused but, I only spanked my son a few times before the age of 8.
Ive never spanked my daughter.

My son did tell me that he would rather have a whippin than me yelling, lecturing, or other forms of nonviolent punishment such as time out or my favorite is to make him read for 10 minutes out loud.

Sometimes that's the only communication a child will resond too when they don't understand why they are not allowed to do certain things. The majority of the time were in situations that he may endanger himself or others.

Fact is that spanking works. Risk is mental trama.

:eek: I feel very strongly about this issue and I feel that spanking should not be legal. A child is going through many developmental stages in life even as adults we are. There brain is growing and learning through experience. We have a tendency in modern society to want a quick this and a quick that. "smack....there see he listened" what this does it creates fear in children and hinders their development. We need to sit down and talk more with our children, stop sitting them in front of the t.v and dictating orders to them over and over throughout the day. Education is the key and giving them choices is the key along with the proper consequences that fit the issue at hand. We are afraid that our children will end up with more control the opposite is true. When you give up the power struggles the child is able to listen and is able to grow in every aspect of their being. Here is an example of a problem. Child is grabbing in the store and is asking for everything. Solution. Try to introduce a fun shopping game and allow the child to participate during the shopping activity,If they are out of control set boundaries... "Kate you are being too loud you can either help mommy shop or I will bring you home and come back to shop alone. Always follow through on your requests the child will learn that you mean business and in the end there is no power struggle because he/she choose. Also you could note their behavior instead of saying terms like that's good that's bad your being good your being bad. By noting the undesired behavior you eliminate attacks to themselves esteem. I have a child, I use these methods and they work. Your child will have a healthy self esteem and will be happier.

I know exactly where you Non-spankers are coming from.
BUT I wasn't traumatized by my very few spankings, I remember why and I remember never doing again. Some kids are different and although yours may have a head that takes a good talking to, a couple (out of my four now five) don't. A spanking does the job and they are still the loving caring kids I had before it, and I am still the loving caring mother I was before it! :)

Well its not that I was afraid of him, its just that I didn't want to be spanked. That was just something to tell you so it doesn't happen to you. Just saying

Yes, I know where the non spankers are coming from, a sad state of liberal education and not enough spanking when they were a child most likely. Of course it is often there children I see destroying everything in sight as the parent ignores them and then gets upset when a stanger yells at them to behave.

? I'm not yelling at you

I really really think for RESPONSIBLE and rational parents spanking is OK. But for others it just isn't
There are too many people beating their children, I wish when they grew up they would give them a piece of what they got as a child... AND not just once!

I think there are to many variables to blanket say that one technique or another is the way to go. What works on yours maynot work on mine. Those are the very real decisions we make as parents, how to raise and teach, and yes, disipline our own kids. Every house is unique, as we are as adults, so we use what we chose, and do what we must. I don't need a law for that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by startover22

I really really think for RESPONSIBLE and rational parents spanking is ok. But for others it just isn't
There are too many people beating their children, I wish when they grew up they would give them a piece of what they got as a child...AND not just once!

Who decides who are responsible are rational parents? The parent would not say that I'm irresponsible etc... so I can't beat my child, if you see where I coming from.