Is spanking the wise way to discipline your child?

Question

Is spanking the wisest way to discipline your child?

I personally think there are other alternatives to disciplining your child other than spanking.

Answer 1

This is obviously a hot topic and my answer is not popular, but I do believe that spanking your child is OK. However, you have to know yourself and your own limits as well as knowing your child and what works with their personality. If you have a child with low self esteem or just a blatant disregard for your authority, than spanking may not be appropriate. Or, if you have a temper and can not control to only spanking your child and you are yelling or leaving marks on them, than spanking may not be appropriate. It is done out of love and in a training way, not to release your anger. Never yell at the child or show anger. Tell them you love them before and after, but that they have to learn that there are consequences for bad behavior. Right now a spanking, later in life, loss of a job, family, or a prison sentence. I know it isn't a popular decision, but I was raised with spankings and I know their is no one out there loved more than my parents love me. I hate to hear adults say they are ruined because their parents spanked them. Apparently those spankings were not handled in the right way.

Answer 2

chloe sorry to say it is not illigal to spank your child > three spanks on there bottom. with no marks. so that means not a bare bottom.

Spanking is a control measure. Most people get out of control and use it all the time. What if your child (let call him timmy) was playing with matches. and timmy was only 3 1/2. I really don't think a child can comperhend a descusion of why you shouldn't play with matches ,but a spanking will make him think about even touching them again.

When I was going up spanking was ok and it is still ok. We had the lords prayer in the class room the violence was not that bad in the schools or on the streets.

Answer 3

Call me callous. Call me a maverick. I think spanking is ok, if not required, for some kids. Saying you should spank every child or, that you should never spank a child is way to general in my book. I really don't care what the guides say. I was spanked. Heck, I even had to sometimes go out the a bush a pick the switch I was to be hit with. That was one long walk. Everyone tries to treat kids like small adults. They are not. I'm not saying beat your kids. I am saying some kids, during some situations need to be spanked. Time outs would never have worked on me. Being sent to my room would never have worked on me. Sometimes I didn't do things out of fear of retribution. Later, I didn't do things because they were wrong. It took me awhile to think things through. Like many kids.

Answer 4

spanking is not the discipline, it's the consequence.

Spanking is a wise consequence as long as it's followed up by teaching (discipline) .

Rule breaking=Consequence followed up by love and discipline.

Answer 5

Throughout my childhood, I was punished by being smacked and even nowdays, If I am bad (i'm 15 by the way) my mum will slap me as a punishment. I don't think it taught me anything and when I get angry- I can feel this uncontrolable power inside me that makes me want to seriosly hurt the other person; and I think that smacking is the reason.
So, I wouldn't use smacking or "spanking" as you call it as a form of punishment for your child, I certainly won't when I have children.

Answer 6

I think spanking is unacceptable. My parents only hit me a handful of times growing up as a kid, but I remember each time like it was yesterday, how it made me felt etc. I think hitting/spanking really affects children and in the worst way possible. Other methods for discipline can be used with much greater results.

Answer 7

Depends on what they did wrong. I used to get spanked for doing things wrong and I turned out fine. You shouldn't just hit them for no reason, small stuff like not listening should just be a time out, if they continue to not listen then go ahead and spank 'em.

Answer 8

Spanking is physical abuse u can go to jail for it now.

You are only hurting your child, not helping them.
A child only knows u as the provider for food, love & shelter.
If u hit a child, it becomes confused. The child goes through many emotions. Your parental love is questioned by the child, your child's security from harm is questioned & damaged.

Please read this great book. It will give u a great insight into not letting your child grow up, screwed up.

http://www.amazon.com/Toxic-Parents-Susan-Forward/dp/0553814826/sr=8-2/qid=1163557790/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/103-8416002-0611034?ie=UTF8&s=books

Compassion, love & understanding should be your tools for discipline.

Tough love DOES NOT WORK.

Also, being an adult & harming a child is like bullying, u are bigger & stronger than them. They will hate u for it. trust me.

Answer 9

I think that spanking your child would only teach them that it's okay to hit people out of anger and act violent towards people, plus it can effect them physically and mentally.

I think the best way to disipline your child is to take their privilidges away from them like taking away their allowance away for a couple weeks and not let them do certain activities for a couple weeks and if their behavior improves after a week or so, I would give back some of their privilidges.

Answer 10

I don't believe in spanking. It is just so bizarre when you think about it - causing a child pain to get them to do what you want. It's barbaric.

I think a gentle swat on a diapered bottom or a little swat to the hand when they are toddlers is more than enough and when they are older - spanking is just too weird for me.