is it ok to lightly smack your children?

Question

if your kids do something wrong and dont learn from that mistake. or if they play dangerously near a road. is it ok to lightly smack your kids?

Answer 1

A little spank on the bottom will just be fine. It is not against the law to spank your kids. It is against the law to beat your children. Spanking will do no harm. The problem with kids these days is that they are not spanked! Most parents are afraid to spank their kids & will only give them a " time out"! What a joke. It doesn't work!

Answer 2

what is the definition of lightly smack? Why a smack? Why not a spanking or a thump on the hand?
hate to tell you this but some people still go around giving their kids a good smack or two, for safety or whatever reasons. Seems predominant in the south.
there are other ways to "discipline" your child.
I suggest if that's the way you want to parent, then beware some people that believe that any hitting is wrong.
And always remember, it's you who are responsible for your child's safety and well-being. Not the govt (who will take your child away) and not the person who will watch your "lightly smack" your child with a look of disapproval and disgust.
They are also the same people that look the same way when your child is the one yelling in the store and cutting the fool.
You are the parent. You decide.

Answer 3

In theory it is possible to educate your children without the need to give them a smack. Yet, real life isn't always that easy.
There many factors involved in the development of a child's personality and its not just the education they get at home. Since early ages they start to learn from each other and that influences allot their behaviour to.

A light smack should be used as a last resort and not as a frequent method. If a child is to stubborn then a light smack might do effect. Still there are other methods to apply (non physically aggressive) and that produce longer term effects and increase their respect to you and give them a different personality.

Never the less a light smack is still useful and at least once in their childhood might be important so that they know that its a possibility (I know, it generates a slight fear, but in many cases ends up necessary and doesn't have to be repeated).

Also, you got to consider that if you abuse that method, the child will eventually kinda get immune to it...

In conclusion, it should only be used as very rare resort. If you want to punish your child, there are other ways to make them feel that what they did is wrong.

Answer 4

The problem with "lightly" smacking kids, is if an adult is angry, then the anger speaks rather than the reason, and quite often, it isn't just lightly. The best way is just to ask the child if s/he understands what is going on, why this is dangerous or whatever. It is a discussion.

In the same vein, let the children punish themselves "If you were me, what would you do if your child did that?" Get them to tell you. then that is their punishment. As they get older, this could backfire, so have a sense of humor. Just keep saying, "Let's be reasonable here." This works.

Answer 5

I was raised by the belt, and I'm a firm believer in it. I don't believe in beating children for no reason at all, sometimes a firm tone of voice and a light smack will do the trick, but kids sometimes don't listen, and a little smack never hurt anyone. And I know, I'm going to get ripped apart for this answer, and I just feel like to each his own. I don't beat my son, nor my nephew, but when my nephew acts out I give him a little smack to let him know, he's not supposed to do that.

Answer 6

In my personal life, I would be a lot worse off if my parents did not use physical punishment on me. However, it only works if you show your love and what sacrifices you have done for them in their life. My parents tried that talk to them in a quiet tone, and grounding, and being sent to a corner, but that just made me think that they couldn't control me. There soft tone of 'what you did makes me feel sad' only gave me the impression that I was in charge.

Then my parents woke up and decided to use physical punishment. They may have crossed the line a few times but I just remember that after every time I was punished and was lying on the floor crying in pain, I would make a mental note to not do what I did ever again.

Now I am 19, in college on a half-ride acedemic scholarship, a respectful and obediant person, do not smoke of drink, and a devout Catholic. Most of all, when my brothers and I are with my mother she always recieves compliments from people who know us and tell her what fine sons she has raised. The only way she could have ever kepted us in line was if she showed that she was in charged, and the only ways kids understand that is if you show no mercy, because that only shows a sign of weakness

However, remember half of the punishment is also laying on the guilt of why your kids diobey you even after all of the things you did for them. That was probably the thing that kept me in line the most. In other words I found out it is never right to bite the hand that feeds you at a really early age.

Answer 7

Yes. I asked my local community bobby about this some years ago when my then 6 year old son threatened to report me to the police for a smack on the bottom. The bobby said he had 3 small daughters and they got a smack if they were naughty. My son is now a copper and married to one of the above 3 daughters!

Answer 8

i think it all depends on the intention behind the smack that matters.

This smack is different from a smack to a guy/girl on the street 'cuz the reason for the smack is different.

If done properly or with good intention, it should be okay, but if not for good intentions, then the child grows up to become a bully or some crime - ster.....

Answer 9

Didn't do me and my three other siblings any harm. In fact my mum got sick of hitting us with her hand she then used a slipper. I can honestly say not one of us has ever been in trouble with the police or anyone for that matter. I give my son a smack if he misbehaves and wont listen the first time i tell him. That's why there are so many thugs about today cause they weren't disciplined. This thing about not hitting our kids is pathetic, il guarantee if anyone listens to that crap we will have six year olds murdering people before we know it, so if they wont behave after been told verbally then if you wish to smack them on the hand or legs.

Answer 10

That depends on your viewpoint. I'm 17 and was smacked when i was a child as were my bro and sis. it done us no harm and has helped in the long run. The only thing i would say is to make sure your childe clearly knows why he is being smacked.
Unfortunately i heard somewhere that its illegal, so check that out. Hope i've helped.

P.S. Smack the bottom, it sends a short sharp pain and doesn't hurt in th long run.

Answer 11

I think there are times for corporal punishment (spankings, etc). If other methods haven't worked, or in an emergency situation, I am totally fine with a little swat now and then. I think it should be avoided when possible, and used only as a last resort.

If my 3-yr-old was reaching for a hot burner on the stove, you can bet your buttons that I'd move fast, and an observer may think I've hit my child. But a swatted hand with Mommy saying, "PLEASE don't touch that- it's owie" will hurt a whole lot less than a 2nd degree burn on the palm of her hand!!

If I've talked to my 10-yr-old repeatedly about hitting his little brother, and time-outs and groundings haven't worked, I'd either try spanking or "community service"- has to help his younger bro with..... something- a school project, homework, yard work, I dunno- I'll think something up.