Illegal to swat child's pamper-padded bottom?

Question

Should it be illegal (as is being introduced in CA) to give your toddler a swat on the bottom or smack his/her hand for doing something wrong?

A spanking is not a beating.

Before children have the mental capacity to reason, they can associate pain with "something is wrong".

My 1 1/2 yr old son wanted to touch the hot wood stove at my inlaws house - it would have severly burned him. I explained it to him, I showed him "hot", but he was intrigued with the fire and was determined to touch it. When he reached his hand towards it in direct defiance (and that was his way to test me) I smacked his hand until finally he stopped trying to touch it. When he was 4 he understood what "hot" meant, and I could reason with him, and he left it alone.

I feel sorry for you folks in CA with small children.

Answer 1

I think that you should maybe repost in parenting questions. Since this is really not a women's studies issues and some men actually participate in the parenting as well. I believe that the only thing that you teach a child by hitting is that it is ok to hurt someone who is smaller and weaker then yourselves. There are better methods and a parent can simply pick this child up and move them away from the stove or leave the room. There is never an excuse to abuse.

Answer 2

I saw this on the news, thought it was a joke until the person pushing the bill was interviewed. Big brother has been constantly intruding into our lifestyles, more and more, and we have allowed it. Personally as long as I don't kill anyone or brake any "major" law, why do they still seek to control what goes on within my four walls, where I pay the taxes and other royalties to the powers that be so that I can co-exist in this country. Swatting a padded bottom is like swatting a padded bottom, now take off the diaper and really give it to them, okay, I can get with that, they will feel it and associate what they should not do with some type of pain. That is the problem with children now a days, the rod has been spared too many times. Go on let this bill be passed you are going to have some of the most rebellious little you know whats and there won't be anything that can be done with them. Because when the powers that be realize it, they will have taken over the country and be swatting their behinds, and they won't be padded. A good behind beating can be refreshing for both parent and child, it reassures each as to who is who and whose role is what.

Answer 3

I think that the reason why certian states are outing spankings is that so many people go to far and turn it into beating. I was spanked as a child and turned out to be a nice law abiding citizen who understands boundries. Although I went through the age of defiance (sowing those wild oats so to speak) I knew that what I was doing wasn't right and the guilt of it put me back on the right path.
I have a 20 month old and will swat her pamper padded butt anytime I feel it will deter her from doing something that will harm her or she has been told not to do. There is nothing wrong with a butt swat, beating is wrong. A child should never ever be left with bruises as a punishment for anything. Too many times parents beat because they are in the moment and upset so they don't see what they are doing as being extreme.
I think that spanking is perfectly fine and should remain legal as long as it is done in moderation. Time outs are great but for a small child I don't think that they really understand why they are being seperated from whatever. Plus timeouts can be a form of punishment to be illegalized too if it goes too far. Look at people who put their kids in closets or cages or what not for hours on end. If a kid is scared by their punishment to the point that they no longer remember why they are being punished it does no good.
Reguarless of whatever punishment someone uses there is someone else out there that will make it a form of abuse just because they are that kind of person. I fully believe that some people should not be allowed to have childern ever. There should be certain crimes that require sterilization (such as child related crimes). This is of course just my opinion and my opinion isn't worth much but it is now out there.

Answer 4

I actually agree with armchair goddess this is not an issue for our government.......however i have to well mannered children who have never been hit (i am not saying that they don't act out at times...all kids do)however i have never raised a hand to my children i use several forms of punishment my 5 year old gets time out (it does work) with my 11 year old this is no longer effective she recently made two c"s on her report card so i walked into her room took her ipod,psp,tv,etc...all she is allowed to do is read (not just school books she can read for fun as well) her things are now put away until grades are improved. The solution to make any form of discipline effect is that it must be consistent...children have to know that there are immediate consequence to their actions. I give no warnings my children know what is expected of them and what will happen if they break a rule. This is one example of punishment vary depending on what they have done. Every parent has the right to decide what is best for their own children.

Answer 5

It should not be illegal, because toddlers are not at an age where they can be reasoned with. This is the learning stage in which they are shown how to behave. Spanking a child on the bottom with a flat hand is not abusive. Whats abusive is the parents who allow their out of control children to scream in public and destroy the peace of mind of others simply because they refuse to spank their child. Its ironic how when more parents were spanking their children, there was less violence going on in society, and children actually had respect for grown ups. These days it seems like the toddlers are allowed to throw massive fits in public places and the parents do nothing to stop it, and then your given a dirty look if you suggest that the person remove their child from ear shot. If California passes this law, they will only be taking one more right away from parents. I find it completely hypocritical, that the police can do whatever they want to in order to restrain your child, but if you do it, then its abuse. Sorry but its more loving to train your children to respect boundaries at a young age, rather then introducing them to the world unprepared for consequences that accompany their actions.

Answer 6

I have long believed that the current level of interference between parent(s) and child by state is appalling and overdone. If one takes a long look at the Constitutional guarantee for Separation of Powers, perhaps an argument that can be made on behalf of the parents is that the Bible states: ..."Spare the rod and spoil the child"...so you are pursuing your religion and, as such, you are making use of rights granted under Constitutional law...so basically you can tell the state to "butt out"...Some people believe in spankings (I know my dad did, although we got to choose whether we wanted a tongue lashing with subsequent restriction or a one-time only whupping). The neo-Naziesque state of our government under the current regime is abusive and in violation of all the democratic freedoms and it is time for Americans to stand up for themselves and reclaim this government "of the people, by the people, and for the people." A parent has a right to discipline a child for the betterment of that child, so long as the boundaries of decency are upheld. Bush can declare an illegal war, can wire-tap American citizens without a warrant, can ignore Hurricane Katrina victims because they vote Democrat and are impoverished, can hold prisoners at Guantanamo indefinitely, can TORTURE prisoners (ignoring the Geneva Convention, the Constitution, and all standards of decency), and can offer no-bid contracts to profit-mongering companies such as Halliburton without voter approval, yet a parent is not to be allowed to fanny-whack a toddler bent on putting fingers in a socket, running into the street, or whatever other dangerous behavior the whupping is meant to curtail???...Our priorities are way off. Bush the war criminal (responsible for every death that has occurred in Iraq) faces no punishment for his crimes as yet, but a parent cannot decide early on that a child needs discipline? Perhaps if Bush Jr. had had his fanny whacked, he might have stayed off cocaine and booze and might have gotten better grades than C's and D's, and he might have been more conscientious about averting 9/ll and about helping Mississippi and New Orleans in a TIMELY way instead of waiting seven days while people were starving and dying...No, it should not be illegal to swat a child's pamper-padded bottom.

Answer 7

Nah that's stupid. I am 20 years old, so I was a child a very short while ago. My parents never beat me, but I did get a slap on the behind every now and then when I needed one. It did me good.

I find it both amusing and disturbing when I see parents trying to reason or negotiate with their screaming 5 year old child. Give the kid a little pat on the behind and move on.

Constantly hitting a child is no doubt bad parenting. A slap (not beating) when they deserve it is good.

Answer 8

Yeah, it should be illegal based upon the idea that parents should have absolutely no rights when it comes to disciplining their children. NO NO NO NO NO!!!! It should be legal to teach children the difference between right and wrong and discipline is the ONLY way.

This represents everything that is wrong in our country. When parents lose all their rights and cannot discipline their children our society has ultimately failed.

Our world is screwed up because children realize that their parents have no real authority and they can do what they please with little to no consequence.

Some quotes from a famous parent- Denis Leary
" My parents used to beat the living **** out of me ok? And looking back on it I'm glad they did, and I'm looking forward to beatin' the **** out of my kids aren't you? For no reason at all."

Answer 9

I dont believe so, but Im sure others may. If not done properly, 'time outs' and no spanking when disciplining can mean a child with no boundaries.
I personally dont consider that kind of spanking 'abuse'.

...take that from a child who was physically, emotionally and sexually abused.

Answer 10

I was in a check-out line at my local Kroger's and was behind a woman with a brat of about 5 years of age. He was pulling the candy and gum off the shelves by the cash register and throwing them on the floor. She was trying to reason with him and laid her hand on his shoulder. He became enraged, striking out at her, and screaming at her. Everyone was staring and she seemed bewildered while the child got louder and more physical. She looked at me and I said, "Lady, by the time that brat is 12 he will be beating you." Then he tore off and went back into the shelves. She went after him and as I was checking out I got a glimpse of her soundly whacking his bottom and he was actually crying. I really think she got the message. And, I kind of think he did, too!