Am I the only monster that still believes in discipline for kids?

Question

I'm attending school at a midwestern collage. When I brought up the idea of spanking as a viable form of discipline for children, the class responded as if I had said "Hile to the Furher."

There are also people in my town who have to pay for their kids to ride TAXICABS to school because their behavior got them kicked of the bus. Yet, some live within a very possible walking distance of the school.

Is it me that's crazy? Does anyone else see a possible connection with the way we raise kids and the delinquincy and ugly behavior they display lately? Not even a VAGUE possibility?

Answer 1

A controlled smack, short and sharp is sometimes needed where the situation is dangerous or unacceptable and the child is not listening to advice.

Answer 2

Discipline actually comes from a latin word that means "to teach." Spanking only "teaches" fear and avoidance. Kids today are up against many more negative influences in their lives than kids just 20 years ago. Parenting is an extremely involved "job" and I think that is where people need to look when it comes to the behaviors of the children in society.

Did you know that the average child watches almost 40 hours of television a week? What does that say about the amount of time their parents are spending with them? What does that say about the child's greatest influences in life?

Sure, spankings are simple and quick and you probably won't see your child do whatever it is they got spanked for again. But that does not mean they aren't doing it. You just aren't seeing it. Does that REALLY help the child learn right from wrong? Spanking does nothing to teach problem solving which our children today need to learn more than ever before. Without problem solving skills, children will come up against a different issue and will have no guidance on how to solve it appropriately. They will simply remember being hurt.

Yes, discipline is absolutely needed with children today, but spanking does not "teach" anything. Its a quick fix that takes no thought or actual "parenting" skills at all. There are absolutely better, more effective ways to parent. Ways that create healthy, nurturing child/parent relationships. All parents can benefit from doing some research and investing their time in learning more about effective parenting.

Answer 3

I think spanking is perfectly fine, as long as you don't go overboard and beat the crap out of them. Kids nowadays get away with crap I'd never even have *thought* of as a kid. And I've honestly never seen "time outs" do a damn bit of good. (My cousins were raised on time outs, and they ended up in foster care because no one could control them.)

However, spanking also shouldn't be the *only* discipline you use. The punishment ought to fit the crime, and sometimes spanking doesn't.

I think kids would also be a lot better behaved if they didn't always get every damn thing they wanted. Ok, so I usually eventually got most of the toys I wanted, but there tended to be enough delay that I realized WHY I couldn't get them instantly (i.e. lack of money) and that it IS possible to be patient now and then.

Answer 4

NO you are not the only one!! I say spank 'em, ground 'em, stand 'em in the corner, whatever... just teach them some manners and respect!! Children without discipline grow up to be adults without discipline!! I hate seeing kids in public who are getting away with murder. Every time I see one acting a fool, I wish the parents would just jerk them up and wear that a$$ out. My kids do get spanked when they misbehave (and that isn't often, because they know there will be consequences). That said, I don't believe in beating a child... they have a butt for spanking and that is the only place they should be hit. Period. There is never an excuse for child abuse.

Answer 5

I got spanked when I was a kid with my mother's hand. As for using belts, cords, switches, shoes or any other thing besides the hand, I don't think that's appropriate. My mother had other forms of punishment too (no TV, no desert, no slumber party, etc) but I knew she meant BUSINESS when I got spanked......and I made sure that I never did the things that would result in a spanking again. I mostly got spanked for bad grades and lying. I thank these spankings for putting me in Pharmacy school and making me a person that would rather not say anything than lie.

Answer 6

Children should be spanked, but don't forget class, there is a difference between spanking and beating. There should always be consequences for behaviors, good or bad, and with some children, spanking is sadly the only way to get there attention. I should know, I was one of these children.

Answer 7

The problem with spanking is that violence begets violence. When you spank your kids, then you teach them with your example that violence is a good way to influence other people. And many of such kids grow up to be delinquents, child-abusers and wife-beaters.

Discipline for kids is definitely necessary. But beating them is not the way.

Discipline for kids should be similar to the discipline adults get in society. When an adult misbehaves at work, then he looses his job, his income and many of the pleasures that go along with it. And when a kid misbehaves, then he too should loose his pleasures and priviledges for an appropriate amount of time.

This kind of discipline prepares kids for adult life. And such preparation is what raising kids well is all about.

People called you Hitler because you advocated doing to children something that you wouldn't want to be done to yourself.

Answer 8

I'm a Vice President of a construction company. I'm confident in my self and have dated many beautiful women. I've only slept with a few special women because I loved them and respect all others. I have a clean police record. I'm extreamly respectful towards others and I appreciate everything I have. I don't do drugs. I drink alcohol maybe once a month, very moderate amounts. I work out and take care of my body.

Oh...and my parents kicked my AS S everytime I acted up or misbehaved, or threw a tantrum...and I love them for it. And I'll do the same with my kids when I have them!!!

Answer 9

I have a 9year old son and i am very strict, my son knows the boundaries and what is and is not acceptable behaviour. I cannot remember the last time i 'spanked' him, i think 'spanking' should be used sparingly and in cases of extreme behaviour, if you spank a child often it will cease to be effective. I remeber one time i spanked my son was when he ran out in the road and without looking and nearly got ran over, i spanked for pure shock value and because he had scared me, he has never crossed the road without looking since. Bad behaviour should have consequences that reflect the behaviour itself. we do not have school buses where i live, but if we did and he got 'kicked off' i would walk him to school. i believe behaviour should have consequences, and a consequence of misbehaving on a bus is to lose the comfort of being transported to school. i think one of the reasons for the behaviour of children today is because children are not taught that there are consequences to their behaviour, they are not taught to value others or be considerate. children know that they are not liable for criminal behaviour whiilst they are young (in the UK) they know they there is very little parents and teachers etc can do to punish them so the only way to get children to behave is to instill them with a sense of morality at a young age. during my sons very young years i was strict and consistent, i dont tolerate bad behaviour so he doesn't push the boundaries.

Answer 10

Consequences are missing...whether it is a spanking, a grounding, time out, missed dessert, whatever. We have become way too "permissionable" (is that a new word??!). I have absolutely no problem with a spanking. I do have a problem with child abuse, whether phys or psych, but a SPANKING is neither. My kids KNOW if I say something, I mean it. Whether it is a warning or a promise...my word is my word. We need to teach kids that there are consequences for their actions or they will turn into young adults that end up blaming EVERYONE but themselves for their problems.

Answer 11

No...I think if more kids had their X Boxes taken away for bad grades or behavior, maybe at least some would straighten up and fly right!!! The way that kids act in stores or restaurants these days is appalling!!! I still would not be able to sit from the blisters I would have on my butt I would have gotten if I had acted that way!!! I'm not that old...39.