Is it ever a good idea to spank your kids?

Question

Is there ever a "right" reason and if you were spanked as a child, were you traumatized by it, or do you think it actually worked?

Also, at what age do you start and when is it not okay anymore?

Answer 1

With it being "right", it depends on the situation. If a child just spilled something on accident, a spanking for it would be kind of extreem.
However, if the child puts his or her life in danger (ie: running infront of a car, playing with matches/fire, running on the edge of a roof,etc), then a spanking is deserved.
Also, spankings are deserved when all time outs, groundings, etc have been tried and nothing has worked.

Yes, I was spanked as a child. It's really the only thing that worked with me. I laughed at the thought of time outs and groundings. And I didn't care if that's all I recieved. Different forms of discipline work with different kinds of children. Find what works and stick to it.

No, I wasn't traumatized, and it did actually work.

The age thing, as long as you're under eighteen. Its done in private. And the spanking works, you aren't too old for it. (my opinion).

Answer 2

Spanking worked for me, my mom, her mom, and her mom, as well as almost everyone I know. And when I say spank, I mean being softly hit with the hand across the butt and legs maybe 3 or 4 times

As children we all think is mean, but at the same time we knew that only excessive unacceptable behavior, resulted in a spanking.

I am 4 months pregnant and I know the time will come when he will have to get a spanking. I won't feel good doing it but spanking is one of the only thing kids understand as a punishment and something they don't want to deal with again. U really can't expect to reason with a 4 year old about not climbing up on a table, that could tip over, to get some candy.

Everyone who is an adult and was spanked know it was only a discipline tactic and it hurt the parent to have to resort to giving a spanking, just as much as it hurt the child.

To answer ur question I was spanked the first time when I was about 5 and I stopped getting spanking kind of late actually, I was like 11 or 12, lol, after that, I would lose privileges, like phone, TV, and radio, etc.

Now I am an adult who understand that every action have a consequence and am a very respectful and loving individual

Answer 3

I was spanked as a child, the old fashioned way (pants down, over the lap) I am very close with my parents. I never thought I was treated unfair, and my spankings were never a reaction. I usually had to sit in the room for a while and think about why I was getting punished. It was never done in anger, always done in privet, and never to the point of bruises being left. I learned my lessons.

My husband and I spank our children the same old fashioned way, however I think we do less of them, because we try other stuff first. We started spanking at the age of 2, and my oldest is 10 and will get some every once in a while. As for a stopping point - I would hope not after junior high/middle school, but I will never say never (though I highly doubt they will get one after the age of 12) Do I think it's abuse to spank a teenager, NO, however I'd hope not to ever have to. My last spanking was at about 14 or 15, by my father, for disobeying my mom, then talking back to both of them (So I greatly deserved it) People my think it must be embarrassing to be bare bottomed in front of my dad @ that age, maybe a bit, but it's not at all what people make it out to be. The only thing that sticks out in my mind about that day was a stinging rear. Granted if it were in front of others (other then my mom) I'd be extremely embarrassed, but this taking place in my room, so what. I was and still am a daddies girl, we did everything together as a child. Every once in a while we still do go out on the lake to feed the fish, lol. I love my parents very much, and wouldn't change how I was brought up.

Hope this helps

Answer 4

I think for certain instances kids need to be spanked. I was spanked as a child and I hated it at the time but now I am thankful that I was raised with discipline. I respect my mom and others and would never do half the things that I see others do and get away with. I don't think you should spank your kids for trivial things that all kids do but when the problem could cause them to get in to alot of trouble or to fail in school then I say the child should be spanked. Spare the rod...spoil the child.

Answer 5

I was spanked as a child. Did it help? Heck Yeah!!! Nothing gets your attention better than a good swift smack on the butt! Igrew up with 2 sisters and one brother,we were all 2 years apart in age, we gave my parents hell. When we deserved it we got a spanking. I have 2 boys now both are bigger then me but they know they can't mess with mamma. If you do it right you should not have to spank after the age of 10.

Answer 6

I truthfully think a spank on the bottom is ok but not as a first response to bad behavior. I usually try warning, then time outs, smack on the hand if touching something hot or whatever, then last is spanking. I see nothing wrong with one smack on the bottom. Beating is another story. There is never a time when spanking a child over and over is ok in my eyes. First time i spanked one of my twins i cried worse then they did....and for a lot longer. I felt like a horrible parent....it was emotional for me. Usually spankings are only given when something is done that is very dangerous. (like once when one of my twins ran into the road...i spanked him for it)

Answer 7

Yes it is OK but not a beating. I spanked my kids when they did something that could/would/did hurt them self or other people. Such as running out in front of a car, playing with things they knew they weren't suppose to touch such as matches, leaving the yard without permission and making me worry etc. I started spanking my kids when they were around 4 but I stopped by the time they were 9 or 10 at the most. Once in a while I will slap their mouth if they are extremely fresh or rude to us but they are 14 now and should know better.

Answer 8

YES, it is ALWAYS a good idea to spank your kids. This is if they are deserving of a spanking. Like they screwed up, disobeyed you, something like that. Me spanked as a child? YEP, Boy am I ever tramatized by it. LOL. Listen you get tramatized when the spanking goes toooooo far. Like when there is actual abuse, as in broke bones and injuries and things like that. JUST to get a spanking does NOT tramatize you. That is of course if you are not some DSS or FAMILY SERVICES person. Garanteed if you talk to them they will refer you to some shrink who will say you are tramatized.Spanking should start at an age where the kid understands NO, but does not listen. To old well I guess when they move out.

Answer 9

I've been spanked less than most but not as less as some. It never traumatized me. I look at it this way; if the young'un is about to put his or her little finger in the light socket I believe a firm tap on the bottom is sufficient, but better yet to remove him straightaway.
Since our young'uns are people just like us I prefer to make them sit still. Why because that's the one thing they do not like. As you can tell I am not all pro on spankings, but still that finger in the light socket that's where I draw the line or even running out into the street.

Answer 10

It definitely helped me. My mom was strict but I knew what the rules were at the outset, so I never had grounds to complain if I broke them and got spanked and grounded. It sure hurt and it was embarrassing, but punishments aren't intended to be fun! But no "trauma" here.

My mom started spanking when I was still in diapers and I got my last one a month before I turned 15. But it was never actually stated that I was ever too old for it as long as I lived with mom, and it was threatened after that.