Do you think younger parents are spanking more?

Question

I did not believe in spanking. When I went to college I was indoctrinated it was a terrible thing. After I had my own kids I changed my tune big time. I am now kind of a nutty radical advocate:http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-GgIFACYzfqWx8YwvtspSWVmWzA--?cq=1&p=793

I have noticed that it seems like a lot of younger parents are thinking likewise. Perhaps we have noticed how well the Boomers turned out. I think it is becoming apparent that the social experiment of the mid-1950's was wrong and parents had been right for centuries.

Do you think that a lot of younger parents also seem to be coming to this conclusion?

I must add I don't think it is the prevelent view in my generation. Otherwise there would not be all the brats I see in the Supermarket. But, of course those are the ones you always see.

It just seems to me that things have changed some. When I tell people I believe in spanking they are not so prone to look at me like I had two heads. And just in talking with my friends and acquintances they do not seem ashamed that they do spank (for a long time there have been a lot of closet spankers--undoubtedly cuz the books taught this mean't you were a failure). Most people consider it a last resort (I think it is more than that--but I am an extremist:))--but it is happening, being talked about and just tons of us are so sick of the Nanny, etc. shows. I really think it will make a comeback--especially after people start seeing the results.

Just so anyone who wishes to answer this knows--I have looked over the answers here and a lot are real good. There is no way I am going to be able to pick a Best Answer. So if you are answering do not try to just please me. It will be thrown to the voters for choice of best answer.

I really am interested if you think there might be something of a trend back toward spanking with new parents (whether or not you agree it is good or not)

Answer 1

I am 36. I have 3 girls ages 3, 7, and 10 who all get spankings. So I don't know if you count me as a older or younger parent. I know someone in their Early 20s who is also a firm believer in the good old fashioned spanking.

I don't know overall, but spanking seems to be gaining back it's popularity. Though I have no polls to prove this

Answer 2

Hmmmmm to spank or not to spank.. Well my son and my daughter-in law have a 4 month old and of course the little one is way too young to spank but they are only in there early 20s and
they are against spanking..
I never really spanked my boys unless it was vital Example: Child keeps running into the road after a dozen times of saying no...
It had to be a real emergency before I spanked my boys..and they are just fine ...

I personally do not believe that spanking should be completely ruled out .. If its something that requires an imediate attention grabber , then I will spank..I have asked my boys (recently) if they remember the last time they were spanked( my boys are 22 and 16).. They can't seem to remember so as a last resort yes I will spank but not as a main source until all other resorces are exhausted..
My parents spanked alot and yes I do believe that in some cases , it is more harmful than good...
As for younger parents spanking more... I couldn't really say.from what I have seen when I go tot he store or wherever .. I see that young people get frustrated easier than I feel my generation did.. ( late 60s early 70s).. Frustration can lead to hitting/spanking unnecessarily...
This was a good question by the way.. :)

Answer 3

I dont know if there is a trend happening.... but 1 thing that is really taking away childrens respect for there parents is school teachers these days... I dont know where your from but here in australia they have passed new laws against smacking chindren..... these is probably to save kids from being abused.. but for the parents that only smack there children when neccessary this is a nightmare...il give you a perfect example... my 9 yr old sistrer is a real nightmare sometimes and on more then 1 occassion when told by my mum if she doesnt behave shel get a spanking my sister has just turned around and said to my mum.."you cant hit me youl get in trouble..." or "il tell my teacher and then you wil be in big trouble" and then will start being even more cheeky... this infuriates me i dont let my sister see this of course but these days parents are scared to death to discipline their kids with a smack on the bum and the kids are getting worse and worse and the schools teaching them this is ridiculous they should be teaching them that if they speak to their parents in this manner that there will be consequences... im only 21 and frankly i dont care what the laws are like by the time i have kids i've seen the difference between upbringing with spanking... my older brother and myself and without my lil bro n sis and i would rather not have kids at all then let them grow up with the rotten attitude that i see in the lil ones today...

Answer 4

This has been talked about in my office at work here in Canada. It seems to me from what I hear and see that the younger parents spank more than us who were brought up in the 60's and 70's.

Parents who are under 30 seem to have no problem with spanking their kids, laws or no laws.

Like I said in other posts, sometimes, just sometimes a child needs to refrain from doing something because they know they will get a spanking. Later on, I am sure the logic will catch up with them.

Answer 5

I know that all of the parents I talk to believe in spankings. Now, that doesn't beat we beat our kids or tha spanking is the right choice for discipline every time. I use a variety of methods, spanking being one of them. I think if more parents used some form of discipline on their children the world would be a better place. And we won't have to watch shows like Nanny 911 or The Nanny.

Answer 6

I don't think that spanking is more common in younger parents, but rather a lack of discipline. Most of the children I see are that are poorly behaved simply have little to no discipline, and often seem to belong to younger parents who feel bad telling them no and enforcing rules, or lower-income parents who are working a huge number of hours to try to support their family, and are simply too exhausted to put up a fight.

I was 16 when my daughter was born, and she was never spanked. She is now as well-adjusted as a child her age can be, because she's had positive reinforcements for good behavior, and has gently been redirected to good activities rather than bad ones. Spanking is simply a juvenile and hypocritical activity that teaches children to fear you, and confuses them when you hit them, but they aren't allowed to hit you, or others. There are much more constructive and positive approaches, and I think that a lot of parents are seeing that spanking is not a good form of discipline (spanking, rather, is punishment, which isn't acceptable anyhow).

Answer 7

You answered mine, now I'll answer yours. I'm 25 years old and yes I spank. I was spanked and I was actually a very good child. My mother put the fear of God in me, and I would do whatever she said. She never beat me and I always loved her, still do. There is such a big difference between spanking and beating. My husband was beat all through his childhood, and he was afraid to spank our son. Then he noticed that our son would listen to me and do as I said. I talked to him about it a lot. He finally decided to try spanking. He never had a problem with me doing it, but he was afraid that he would turn into his father. Now we both spank and we have a very sweet and well mannered 2 year old. Of course we use other forms of discipline. I actually don't have to spank that often, and we also use time out when spanking doesn't seem right.

Answer 8

First not all children are the same
2nd a parent should never smack their child when they are angry as this is often the case with most parents as it relieves the fustration of the parent . the word dicipline is derived from the word diciple meaning to teach and that is the role of a parent to teach and instruct in a loveing way as the lord jesus did. You will find that most of the now baby boomer generation had various forms of dicipline (wich included spanking) but also alot of them where made to go to church and were bought up with good old fashion values that are very much so missing in this generation and sadly the common attitude of kids today is: ( well ive only got one life to live who cares what i do as long as im haveing fun ) sadly this outlook has had the bigest downfall of our generation world wide causeing everything from unwanted pregnancy to youth suicide . heres a tip for all parents out there from one loveing family to all parents who want the best for their kids: diciplne is not going to be enough to keep your kids on the straight & narrow ! it is not going to stop your child from drink driveing or your 16yo daughter from being seduced by that drop kick at the party but a bible trained conscience & wholesome disipline combined with a loveing family environmet is certainly going to be more beneficial! so do yourselfs and your kids a favour and make a time as a family to sit down and read the bible together as a family you would be suprised at how much it will make a diference in all your lives all the best!

Answer 9

According to research, age of parents doesnt really matter, however, the educational level of parents do, which is why once you went to college you heard a different view on spanking. So its possible that the reason why your peers in college had a different view on spanking is because they also came from educationally advanced parents. Its a proven fact that it is more likely for a kid going to college to have parents that went also than vice versa.

By the way, I'm not saying that people who spank their kids are stupid though. I'm just stating a fact about how education level relates to spanking and why at college you heard what you did.

Personally, I dont see a problem with spanking if its done correctly and I have a masters degree.

Answer 10

The key to disciplining with love is consistancy in all areas of parenting and that includes keeping an eye on your child's school. Public schools have a history of teaching disrespect towards parents - not much time for the learning with all that going on. That desensitizes the child to personal responsibility and pits child against parent. That alone can anger and confuse(wrath) a child while they are simutaniously being taught everything is the parents fault.

We are commanded by God to bring our children up in the eyes of the Lord. Neglecting to discipline drives a child to wrath...they do not feel loved. IMO a child also needs to be taught who their enemies are and that includes adults not looking out for their best interest as well as peers. Just remember that all of us including our children are born with God given free will and children have to be taught as they naturally test test test authority and don't come programmed with manners or empathy. And this is a big one....they cannot learn without adult guidance and to expect that much of a child IMO is absolute neglect and pure cruelty...don't listen to the radicals and don't 'beat' your children either.