did anyone see the programme on ITV last night about smacking children?

Question

i thought it was terrible, it upsets me to think parents treat there children like this. i would never smack my son., and just wondered if people saw this programme.

the programme also goes to show that the smacking obviously didnt work as the kids were still being naughty, so i just didnt agree with it at all.

Answer 1

No I did not watch it as I disagree with smacking. Other strategies are effective.

Smacking children should be treated as seriously as smacking adults.

Smacking adults does result in in a criminal prosecution because it is a barbaric act, one which is so uncivilised that it must be stopped.

Smacking children is 100 times more severe, because children do not have the same power as adults, therefore, not only is it physical abuse, but it's bullying too and both of these have a long lasting emotional impact on the child's well being.

Smacking children should be made illegal across the world.

Answer 2

I saw that and I am an advocate of smacking, just not children. I think its something for consenting adults.

Maybe if these parents had all been like the couple with the five and they talked it over first and cuddled after it would be different, but most of those on the show seemed to get a *thing* out of it. Smacking is not about power and thats what they were weilding.

I especially felt for little Mitchell. His father really didn't understand the child was behaving and it was like he was taking it out on the boy.

That seven year old though I might have been just as tempted as his parents. He was horrid.

The two little girls didn't need to be struck on the shoulders and back either.

Spanking has its place and thats a cool headed parent and a few swats to the bum, nothing else.

That Angela though took the prize. I mean really- a spatula!!!

Answer 3

I watched it. Being a parent of 2 myself, I was shocked with the frequency of the smacking, dished out for the smallest misdemeanours.

In my view, smacking is like the Nuclear option - superb deterrent and definitely a last resort.

I'm not saying I haven't ever smacked my children, they have both had a couple, but as I say, as a last resort, and for truly naughty actions, after having the rights and wrongs of their behaviour explained in language they can understand, if they persist and get all defiant. It's only ever the once, without a huge amount of force or aggression, normally once they've been sent to their room and/or had certain privileges withdrawn.

These people who just swear and lash out at their kids all the time, like on the TV last night need to get some help.

Discipline is an important part of bringing up a child to hold decent values, but the punishment must always be in line with the crime.

Answer 4

I saw it and thought it was abit pathetic. By the way i am not a bad parent but i have smacked my kid don't judge people so easily. I don't agree with hitting hard, marking the kid or slapping anywhere other than the hand or bum and it is always a last resort and no i don't like doing it but it does work.
Someone said it doesn't work because the kids are still naughty afterwards so if that's the case then the naughty step, ignoring the bad and praising the good and distraction methods don't work either because the kids still play up when they are punished like that.
stop making out your all to perfect to ever do such a thing when your probably just as horrible in other ways, how often do you play with your kids, how often do you read to them and listen to what they say, do you snap at them for no reason do you swear in front of them.
none of us are perfect so don't be so judgemental and stereotype us as all the same.

Answer 5

Didn't see the programme - but it was discussed at work. I have to say that I totally disagree with smacking and any form of corporal punishment. I know some people think that the cane/belt should be brought back, but I think this is just ridiculous. If you teach kids that if someone annoys them then you slap them, what kind of example is that to set? There are many ways to discipline children other than smacking.

Answer 6

I did! I was completely shocked! I am a teacher and know that other methods can work (although I do not claim to be an expert as I do not have children of my own and I know it is completely different to have them 24/7!) I would not have said that I was against parents smacking their children but maybe I was nieve! A "smack" to me was a tap on the hand or the bottom (as my parents did!) but what I saw last night showed me that a smack to other people can be completely different! Swearing at children and hitting them that hard is terrible and I found it really upsetting!

Great question tho!

Answer 7

You know ppl are so quick to scream abuse when it's discipline. It's sad. I was spanked as a child. I was also beat as a child. I know there's a difference. (The biggest being a spanking is a few swats on the bottom compared to being beat into a corner) Oh no! According to most every one here I must be a criminal. An abusive criminal. Lets see I have a full time job, in the management profession, 2 wonderful children and a wonderful husband (nope he doesn't hit me so that throws that argument out too).
I am a law abiding, quiet, sensitive, girl. I also go out and have fun with my friends or just spend quiet evenings at home playing cards.

If my children are acting inappropriatly they get a warning, a time out, and then a spanking. Which again is a few swats on their bottom.

You guys make it sound like we are all crazy, children beaters and this is not true. I've known some of those too and guess what? I'm not for abuse. Abuse is wrong but who are you to call discipline abuse?? Spanking is not abuse so get off your high horses please and find something different. If kids would get reprimended the jailing system wouldn't be so packed w/criminals. I don't really want my kids in jail so I teach them morals and values (shockingly yes I have those). Oh and I punish them when they get into trouble. You know what? I have some pretty well behaved children with manners that do not go running around screaming. so please tell me how your kids are better. YOu know what? never mind. Just don't judge how others parent.

Answer 8

I watched it and like you was horrified. I do not agree with smacking children. I thought the lady with the spatula was totally out of control,but the one that saddened me the most was the little boy sat at the table, who was obviously being bullied by his father. You could tell his mother was not comfortable with what was happening, but she said nothing. I wonder if it was a teacher smacking her child would she ignore this also. The little boy was smacked and yelled at for turning sideways on his chair, probably because he wanted to be involved with what was going on in the room. Then this guy tried to justify his bullying by asking the child "do you hate me for smacking you". For christ sake who is the adult here. If an adult feels guilty, then as an adult, we know its wrong. Every single parent on this program made a comment saying how bad they felt at smacking their children. Then dont do it. Sorry this makes me so angry.

Answer 9

Im not into smacking either. As an adult I would not want to be smacked so why would I smack my child?

There are other ways to correct your children. I think its just the lazy way out for some people and most of the time it never works.

Answer 10

I didn't see the show, but I think there's a world of difference in the way people use smacking to discipline.
A single short sharp tap on the back of the hand, with a stern "NO!" when a toddler needs to learn a vital message quickly but is too young to grasp explanations is ok in my book. A vital message would mean a fascination with sticking things repeatedly into electrical sockets (forks, in my two year olds case) or running full speed out of shops or carparks. Usual day to day things shouldn't warrant smacks, I believe they are used purely to vent the parents' frustrations.
I can't think why anyone would need to hit an older child or preteen - we have our words to deal with them.
There is no excuse for habitual hitting or spanking - if you smack for everything, could it be you just can't be bothered to deal with the problem properly?

Answer 11

There is a bigger debate really, how has the right to determine how a parent disciplines a child, the parent or a politician. The programme oversensationialised it anyway, they chose extreme parents to simply bring out the shock factor, and you need to realise that, thats waht programme makers do. If a child needs to be disciplined and the parent feels its appropriate to smack, then so long as it is not about the head or leaves a mark, then thats fine, that may be what's needed, the only person to judge that is the parent. Some of this' naughty step' is rubbish and is not always appropriate, OK when its a small child, but an older pre teen, I dont think so...