So, what's with the lack of spanking children?

Question

I see all these alternative punishments. How many of your parents did this instead of spanking you?

Wow, some great answers from both sides. I'm not going to say how I was raised unless asked, but I'll never say I'm ok. Society tells me that much. However, I commend each and everyone of you for even taking the time to answer. Let us keep this up.

Answer 1

I was spanked and I am totally fine,I am an adult,a mother,in college,and am doing well for myself.I never under any circumstances hated my parents or thought they hated me,spanking has to be done the right way to be effective and not cross any lines.I always knew my parents loved me and I respect them all the more today for being the wonderful parents they were and continue to be today. My parents didnt just rely on spanking though,they used spanking as a last resort and I think thats the way it should be.

Answer 2

I think alot of alternative things are great you can teach children many things by talking with them and making them learn there own lessons. When you spank them they are concentrating on being spanked and mommy or daddy is mad not what they did wrong. Don't get me wrong my little boys need spankings sometimes definitely. I think that making kids realize what they have done wrong and being punished accordingly either time out, making them think about what they have done or taking away something they enjoy like going out side or TV they might think twice about not minding or talking back or whatever is going on. I do not believe spankings are for everything.

Answer 3

My parents never spanked me (or my sister and brother)and never even threatend to spank me. I will not even consider spanking my children. Growing up {and I grew up in the south where some parents still make their kids go get the switch themselves} mine would send me to my room and take away something I really enjoyed such as a toy or going outside with a friend or even TV and I grew up just fine. Spanking children teachs them {in my opinion} that it is okay to hit someone if they do something wrong it teaches aggression.And by the way Im almost 35, so back when I grew up spanking was considered "ok"

Answer 4

I was never spanked and I don`t have children... But, from what I`ve seen, sometimes others forms of discipline don`t work. There are kids who get on the right track just by grounding or taking away something they like. Others, continue to misbehave. I`m not saying to spank the daylights out of your kids but a few swats on the butt won`t kill him and it will send him the message.
Does it lead to violent adults? If you think about it most of our parents (I´m 29) were spanked when they were kids and I don`t find them to be violent. The same can`t be said for kids today. Most of them are violent, rude, etc, etc...
So, basically, I´m saying that, when I do have kids, I will try all forms of discipline, spanking included (if needed).

Answer 5

My parents spanked me and I turned out ok. We knew how to behave in public and we didn't run around shooting each other in school. Maybe if we went back to the way parenting used to be the world would be a better place. There is a difference between spanking and beating your children and I don't see spanking as abuse and it's ridiculous to call it that. What I consider abusive are the parents who let their kids do whatever they please and there are no rules or consequences for their action. How is that preparing them for the real world?

Answer 6

My childhood was in the late 70s - early 80s. Spankings were the last straw in our house. everything else was tried first ( unless we really screwed up ) Spankings are still used on my kids, and it is the most effective. However, I try the alternatives first, and have been picking up some cool new Ideas from this site.

Answer 7

My parents spanked and threatened with the belt and the wooden spoon..for the most part I turned out ok. I don't believe in this non spanking thing. Sometimes kids need a spanking (not a beating) to discipline them.

Answer 8

I was spanked. And when I became too old for spanking, I got slapped in the face (by my mother only). Things turned out prettty good for me. About a month ago I actually thanked my mom for spanking me when I was a kid. Do you notice any corelation between the decrease of spanking and the increase of rude little children? I have.

Answer 9

My parents spanked me and I think I turned out pretty well. My hubby and I spank our son and we have a very well behaved son. The problem now is that CPS is going overboard about what abuse is because they let so many children get harmed due to CPS neglect. So because of that many parents are afraid of being wrongly accused of abusing their child.
And for the record, I understand there are parents that believe spanking is abuse. Fine, that is your opinion, dont force it on me. Everybody raises their child differently. Also,I believe there is a difference between spanking and beating.

Answer 10

My parents spanked.

I have had weak moments in my past where I resorted to spanking and I have done everything in my power never to go there again. It was wrong and I regretted it. I should never have allowed myself to fall back on learned behaviour. I now try very hard to come up with alternatives to spanking because I think it is cruel, demeaning and teaches the wrong lessons to our children. Discipline is about TEACHING and I don't think spanking teaches anything but fear or "don't get caught."