Should parents spank their children?

Question

I am doing a research essay and I want to see the ratio of people who say yes and no. Thanks!
Were you spanked as a child?
Are you going to spank your children?
Do you spank your children?
Did you change your mind once you had children?

Answer 1

Was spanked as a child...rarely, and single swat to backside. Spanked child when he was young, only if he did something dangerous and was too young to comprehend. (ex:, trying to stick something in electrical outlet) Used other consequences, such as time-out, early bedtime, loss of privileges, etc. for "naughty" behavior.

Answer 2

-Yes I was spanked as a child, not beat, but spanked.
-Yes I will spank my children when the crime fits the punishment.
-Right now, no because my son is only 7 months old, but sometimes he does get a light tap on the back of the hand if he does something like go for an electrical outlet.
-No. Spanking is a very effective form of discipline and people who spare the rod will spoil the child. True not everything they do will deserve a spanking, but there are times when children need a few whacks on the rear to get them in line. And I never once thought about raising a hand back to my parents because I knew I'd get it again. That's the problem with so many children today. Parents are afraid to hurt their feelings and want their kids to like them rather than do what in the future will be in their best interest. Whether you spank or not, you must punish wrong behavior some how and reasoning with a 2 year old does not work!!

Answer 3

This is a question I've been asking myself all week. SInce my 7 year old got a big spanking by my husband 4 days ago. I don't know if it did any good. He spanked him with an adult belt, hitting about 10 times. I think that is just a little too much.
I asked the Dr. about it a while back since my son has ADHD and he said DON"T DO IT. Especially with those type children, b/c it won't help the problem or correct him..it will make everything worst. SInce he can't help he goes off and does these foolish outrangeous things in school.
I think maybe a pop once on the behind or hand if they are small, but that is it. I know my Dad spanked us growing up...who knows if it done any good. But it always made me feel scared of him growing up..I have 2 older brothers and they got spanked all the time.

Answer 4

I know it's not currently the politically correct thing to say, but I personally believe in the value of spanking. I feel it sets a limit for behavior that children don't want to cross, making all other punishments (grounding etc) more effective. I think that some of the most spoiled brats are that way because the parents didn't have the courage teach the children limits.

You should make sure that you have strict rules for yourself. I never hit my children when I'm angry, I always have a set number of swats before I go into it, and all spankings start with a lecture of why this is happening, what behavior is expected etc. I actually think that my kids hate the anticipation and lecture more than the actual spanking.

My son will actually prefer a spanking over grounding etc. You take your punishment and then it's done and over with.

Answer 5

2 spank or not 2 spank?

Background: At the age of 7 I was spanked in the street, infront of my friends, by my father for starting and driving the car while my Mum was in the store. It was done out of pure fustration and anger and it hurt like hell. It was the last time I was spanked as my mother was guilt ridden after that - I was out of control for many years afterwards!

Now, as a father who has raised a child here is my guidence:
YES spanking is ok, BUT NEVER IN ANGER OR FUSTRATION.

Here is why:

1/ You spank the child to teach control - how are you doing that if "you" are out of control?

2/ You stand risk of hurting the child if you do not have control of your emotions!

3/ You will regret it in the morning - the guilt of a parent is far greater than any other kind of guilt. If it isnt this way for you, well maybe it should be!

If you say you are going to spank a child - ALWAYS follow through but do it before you reach that point of fustration, or take the time to calm down before you do so.

DONT leave it to the last resort - do it sooner as keeping it as a last resort means you will be too fustrated to follow through.

Apply a count of 10 to every time you threaten to spank and again ALWAYS follow through when you reach zero. This gives the child a chance to back out.

DONT WACK THE HELL OUT OF THEM - if you left a hand mark, you spanked too hard! Even if they say "it doesnt hurt" - it does. You are emposing a physical dominance on the child that they will mentally relfect on for next time.

The punishment you save for last resort is the one people turn to first..."time out" - isolation teaches the child nothing! Many parents would rather not deal with the situation and dont follow through with other disiplines to support this as an effective method.

ALWAYS think about what it is you are teaching the child with the punishment but from the childs perspective, not yours.

Hope that helps at least some of the children out there.

Answer 6

I was spanked as a child. I will spank my child if time out or nothing else works and my child is terribly out of control. I do not have to spank my children because I find other logical way to teach them. I have not changed my mind when I had children.

Answer 7

who say yes and no. Thanks!
No, spanking only teaches the child that it's ok to hit when angered or frustrated.

Were you spanked as a child?
No, I was beaten, broken nose, broken eye socket, and I still have scars on the backs of my legs.
Are you going to spank your children? My "child" is 21 years old Never hit her.
Do you spank your children? Nope never did.
Did you change your mind once you had children? Nope.

Answer 8

I wasnt spanked, I was hit. There's a huge difference.

I will SPANK my son once he is old enough. Again, there's a big difference in spanking and hitting (beating)

He is only three and a half months now, but yes, I will when the time comes. For certain things though. Every punishment does not need to be a spanking.

No. I always knew that I would spank.

Answer 9

I was spanked with a belt when I was a child and yes I spank my kids (with my hand) I only use it as last resort, My boys are 6 and 11 and they seem to think "timeout" is a joke. I cant stand these people who preach dont spank your kids it abuse, Im sorry bruising a child and making them bleed that is abuse, to me there is nothing wrong with a spanking to get the point across. To many kids are to out of control these days due to lack of discipline.

Answer 10

No, parents should never spank their children.
Yes, I was spanked/beat as a child.
No, I have not spanked my children, although my x-husband does when the children are with him.
I never plannned on spanking my children, and I do not plan on starting.

What is the purpose of a spanking? I see no way that is could help a child learn right from worng. It is only a parents excuse for loosing thier temper or just plain old bad parenting. Is spanking a child suppose to scare them? I just don't get it. Would you spank your friend, spouse, sister, uncle to teach them a lesson?

Someone tell me what the purpose of a spanking is suppose to be?

Answer 11

I was spanked when I was a kid, not all the time, but I sure deserved it when I got it.

I thought I would not spank my children. I though time outs, etc. were the answer to discipline. And while it sure works the vast majority of the time. Sometime you need to make point or get someones attention. I don't beat the kids but a couple swats on the but is o.k. sometimes. Nobody said being a parent was supposed to be easy.