Why do people have such a problem with using physical force to discipline their children?

Question

Being opposed to beating a child is one thing, but what is the harm in spanking as long as the parents are consistant in explaining what the child has done to deserve the punishment?

Haring, I'm not a bully, but I do know that there are a lot of overprotected spoiled little brats who lack discipline because their parents are too soft on them.

Answer 1

Because they have been brainwashed by the liberal fools who now run our education system that physical discipline is EVIL. This is not true. Of course beating a child IS evil, and shouldn't happen, but swatting my child on the butt with an open hand is NOT abuse. Most of the time it was through a diaper and clothing anyway, so they barely felt it. I did not ever leave marks on my children.
Also, I told my children if they ever reported me to Child Protective Services for disciplining them, that would be the last day that they lived in my house. I don't care where they went, but it I wouldn't stand for the state telling me I can't swat my kid on the butt (Every teen threatens to call CPS, I think. Mine only did it once!)

Answer 2

Because too often, parents go too far. Never mind stranger danger, 50 kids a year are murdered by their own parents in the UK. I think that what starts as a slap can escalate, over time, into real beatings. I have three children and I admit that I have been over-physical at times which is why I stopped doing it at all. And I can see how others wouldn't stop but would just keep hitting harder & harder...For some, its a slippery slope. That's why I think physical force is not a good thing. And if you're intelligent enough and patient enough, you don't have to use physical force either. To be honest, sometimes, its just plain easier & less work to just wallop your kid when you've run out of patience. But that doesn't make it right, you know. It just means you ran out of patience or were too busy or whatever. Anyway, that's what I think. Father of three gorgeous kids.

Answer 3

God made hands and God made butts; they go well together! That's my philosophy. I'm not beating my child... if I were, I'd be leaving marks and enjoying it. I don't enjoy it and it's a last resort. I'd rather teach my child right from wrong before it's up to the courts or I'm identifying my kid in the morgue.

The problem is that too many people out there confuse spanking with beating... both literally in disciplining their children and with how they were disciplined themselves as a child. There are kids who need protecting... I'll freely admit that. After working for 15-plus years in emergency medicine, I've seen more than you can imagine. With that said, you can definitely tell which kids are spanked versus beat.

I really wish people would butt out and allow a parent to be a parent. The whole "give your child one minute of time out for each year of age" is utterly ridiculous! A two-year-old doesn't have a two minute attention span to even understand he's in trouble after that time out.

I was spanked by my parents and I actually thank them for it now. I knew I stepped over the line of no return if I got spanked. I knew it was my actions that lead to it. I don't have a nervous twitch, I'm not violent and I've not spent years in psychotherapy because of it!

Answer 4

Physical punnishment instead of consequence from the original action is not warrented. Teaches the child to fear the parents and "don't act up" because of the parents. NOT because of the issue itself. Intead of learning to not run in traffic can get hit by traffic. The child learns to not run in traffic because the parent "said so".

Physical punnishment installs fear of the user. I'm not sorry for not wanting my own children to fear me, but respect me. You CAN install respect WITHOUT physical contact. If a child needs physical contact, then parenting needs to be looked at itself before taking it out on the child for being a child.

If "constent" then how come have to keep doing it? If it didn't work the first time, why keep spanking?

" I do know that there are a lot of overprotected spoiled little brats who lack discipline because their parents are too soft on them."

So spanking instead of re-adviseing not to spoil the child is the right answer? Do not harm the child due to the parent's errors. The parent decides to spoil the child. The consequence is the child's actions and to spank trying to "undue" the parents fault is emotional and physical abuse.

I know I will get thumbs down from "pro spanking" parents, but I am proof as well as my siblings, as other non-spanking parents that can raise a child with out physical "punnishment". In the end, I know my kids won't need it and that is all that matters.

Answer 5

I blame it on the power that has been given to DPS workers. Without proof, or really any investigation, they can remove children from your home and make your life hell. Yes, children need to be protected, but the cases where a child does need protection in many cases they send them back into the situation and the child is injured or killed.

The schools are too quick to teach children about their rights. How many times do you hear a child tell a parent who tells them to stop or they will get a swat "If you hit me I'll tell the policeman!"

Answer 6

I agree. society has made it so you think if you spank your child, he or she will grow up to be Charles Manson. depending on age is a big thing. as far as how to disapline, I think. ie: let a 13 year old get away with talking back and being cocky, etc. I guarantee the parent will regret it. My step son,13 last summer was smarting off bad.
I just held him with one arm against the wall. and said, you better knock it off NOW or else. he was scared of me for 2 days. after that no more problems. It's starting again, so I'll just have to give him a reminder who's the boss. and what the alternative is. It Works!!

Answer 7

I think it depends on what you call spanking ,some people hit children with belts or wooden paddle's and call it just spanking .The big think is that as a form of discipline ,it doesn't work for long ,my 12 year old is bigger than me ,how could I spank him and so you need to be able to control your kids with out spanking.the other argument is about violence ,how can you teach your kids not to hit other children if its OK for you to hit them.

Answer 8

They are afraid their child will get taken away. Now a days if someone like a teacher or family, sees a bruise on the child that looks bad will consider you a child abuser even if you had nothing to do with. every ones blows it out of proportion and makes its bigger than what is really is. My hubby cousin got slapped on the face and told her teacher and her mom got a huge fine and probation for one year for her daughter back talking her.

Answer 9

You have a very valid point. There is nothing wrong with spanking as it is defined - "slapping the buttocks with an open hand" but there are those who can't spank properly and use implements to discipline their kids. This is abuse and is not acceptable in modern society.
Spanking is okay - it is those who abuse the term that have given it a bad name.

Answer 10

Because violence is generally counter productive. Once you start smacking a child you will have a real problem trying to stop as the child will become acustomed to this punishment. It sets a bad example for the child to follow. Finally any more than the lightest tap is cruel.