Corporal Punishment: "Is is wrong to physically discipline your child?"?

Question

Do you think it's wrong to spank your child when he/she misbehaves in a public place? Do you become offended when you see a mother slap her child or spank him/her for a serious act of misbehavoir?

Please, elaborate on this question. Thanks.

Answer 1

~It is NOT wrong to discipline your child, whether in public or any place. How can anyone looking on know what that child has been like or is like and believe they should judge that parents discipline? They don't know what is going on.
They need to mind their own business. I see parents trying really hard to get their kids to quiet down or to prevent temper tantrums, it's hard. Children know from experience that they can get away with it in public.
That's what's wrong with children today, you aren't suppose to discipline them. You're the parent, right? A parent isn't usually out to hurt their kids.
For onlookers: MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!~

Answer 2

Spanking for a "serious act of misbehavior" can be the right thing to do.

Parents frequently make the wrong choice and do the wrong thing by not instructing their child, explaining why they will receive a spanking and how to avoid it in the future.
Remember, the object of discipline is not to cause misery or pain, but to discourage behavior that is harmful to self and others.
When it becomes apparent that a parent is spanking or yelling in an angry response to a child's behavior, that parent may need a spanking themselves.

If spanking is not working then it's time to stop it all together for a while. Spanking is generally only useful with children young enough that they don't yet understand boundaries.

Remember, raise the children don't ruin them.

Answer 3

I am a big believer in corporal punishment for kids. At the risk of sounding oversimplistic, I believe it is one of the essential things in raising most kids.

I am sorry , but I am going to be lazy and give you a link to an article I wrote reviewing the studies on spanking--and they do (which may come a surprise to those who get all their information from the mass media) support my views: http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-GgIFACYzfqWx8YwvtspSWVmWzA--?cq=1&p=793

At one level I am glad when I see a parent spanking a child in public. There were a few times when my Mom pulled me into the ladies room and smacked me on my bare fanny.

I would not dare do that today. Seriously--I would be afraid I might be arrested.

One problem I have observed with some of the "spankings" I have seen in public are that they are being done in anger. Spanking should not ever be done when the parent is angry and possibly a little out of control. The other thing is it is embarrassing to the child. While all punishments are inherently a little embarrassing a spanking in front of a crowd of people might be a little much.

On the other hand spanking works. And it is not as effective if it is delayed (most especially with real young kids).

So after considering all that if a parent decides it is necessary to give a spanking in public I say more power to them. But I think it would be best, when possible, if they tried to get a little privacy, as my Mom did. The spanking in the aisle of Supermarket is upsetting to everyone.

Answer 4

NO I don't think it's wrong. To see someone give out a spanking in public, I think these days they are playing with fire. I am all for spankings, it's just there are to many people who don't know the laws of this country, and will report you. Of course you will win out in the end, but why bother with all the hassle, when you could just go to the car, or wait until you get home and do it. That way you avoid all the trouble all together.

Also I would like to add- Most of the public spankings I have witnessed are by parents who have completely lost control. This is never a safe or meaningfully way to administer a spanking. Parents need to be calm before doing them.

Answer 5

Yup, your gonna get beat up in this section for bringing up physical punishment of a dog. Now, I'll tell you what I think. I too was raised in a world where physical punishment of dogs was the accepted practice. We, I, didn't know any better. It was not a matter of people didn't love their dogs, or were wanting to be cruel, it was just they way things were done. Not just dogs, heck kids usually got a good smack for acting up. I remember getting beat with a professionally made paddle, at school, state sanctioned child abuse! But back too dogs. I think what has changed is that research has shown that dogs are not kids (duh). What I mean is we now have a better understanding of how dogs think, and learn, and how a pack leader runs a pack and maintains order. There is a difference between physical punishment, and physical correction. Sometimes you have to use negative training actions, but it should be more a show of force, and generate a bit of fear in the dog, then the actual infliction of pain. Now by show of force, I mean I have growled at my dogs, shown my teeth, and took what the dog knows to be a fighting stance, (to the dog, like lowering your head, moving slowly and deliberately). If they still don't comply, I'll charge them and yell. It scares them. I'm sure some would consider that cruel. But, since learning a bit more about how dogs think, and act, I have not had to "punish" a dog the old school way in many years. Am I beyond giving them a quick little whack on the nose if they do something really wrong? No, but if your doing everything else right, the need should not arise where you have too.

Answer 6

No. Absolutely not wrong.

I'm tired of hearing about how "wrong" it is to spank a child. I wish people would just look at the world today, and compare it to how the world was years ago when everyone was spanked.

There is a huge difference between spanking and abuse. I have seen abuse. Spanking shouldn't even be compared to that term.

As for in a public place, I guess it's okay as long as the parent takes the child to the bathroom or somewhere private.

Answer 7

I spank my daughter. I don't think it is wrong. sometimes it's the only way to get their attention and show them that you mean business. I don't think you should spank really hard and i don't think you should spank or slap anywhere but the butt. i think i have only spanked her in public a few times, i know people frown on physical discipline, so i take her to the bathroom. I think if it is only a gentle spank and not a spank as hard as you can then it is not child abuse. of course some children don't respond to spankings and need a different course of discipline like time outs and taking away privileges. I usually use time outs and taking away privileges. they seem to work better than spanking.

Answer 8

It depends on the level of punishment that you are refering to. The bible says spare the rod spoil the child. I do believe that some children do need a good spanking every once in a while. I wouldn't handle it out in public where everyone could see. I would probably pull my child into a bathroom out of people views and spank them privately but only if I had to.

Answer 9

Its more offensive when I see a parent taking physical and verbal abuse from their own child and not doing anything about it. There's a difference between child abuse and a good spanking. I don't remember hearing about any school shootings before people started crying about how horrible it is to spank your child. But yea I forgot that these days kids can do whatever they want to whoever they want with no consequences.

Answer 10

No not really but i think that it would be smarter to bring the child to a bathroom and discipline them there. I am not offended when i see this happen though. The child should be spanked for misbehavior.