Who thinks spanking a child is an effective form of discipline?

Question

When there are so many non violent ways to fine tune a child's behavior. Admittedly many parents do not know how to effectively employ discipline tools such as time out, or usage of levers. It seems that many who use spankings as a method of discipline, do so because they're not aware that there are other effective methods available. Should ignorance in parenting skills be an excuse to hit a child?

Don't get me wrong, there are an awful lot of brats out there and I hold the parents responsible. It just seems that it is lazy parenting to resort to the quick fix of spanking. Parents need to be willing to do the right thing even at the cost of their own comfort. For example, you are at a restaurant for dinner with your family, you've just ordered and your child begins making a scene. You need to leave the restaurant even if it means paying for food you did not have a chance to eat.
I want to know that people aren't hitting their kids becuz they were too lazy to learn alternative

Answer 1

Spanking is a last resort in my home and we only do three swats. Parents know there are other alternatives out there, they just choose the fast method and quick response. They don't understand that it is not a long last response.

As for walking out of a restaurant. I had that happened when my son was three but in a grocery store. He started his fit so we left cart there in the aisle. This happened three times and finally he learned that it was a wrong move. Never again had that problem in a store.

Answer 2

There is a time & place acceptable for spanking.
Spanking gets their attention (which is the PRIMARY reason for spanking - NOT inflicting pain)
And, depending upon the maturity of the child, spanking has it's effective years, and it's ineffective years.
A quick swat can work on a child in diapers.
A spanking, parent bare-handed, is effective over underware up to maybe 7 yrs old.
A paddle over full clothes can work 8-12 yrs.
By 13, probably other methods of discipline is more effective, such as denying priviledges or similar tactics.

It depends upon the child and what the discipline problem is. No need to be over harsh. It always needs to be done after the parent has calmed down, a talk beforehand so that the child understands that a punishment is forthcoming and why, then the spanking administered (according to the child's response) or not.

All kids - even within a family - relate differently to different situations. A wise parent recognises this and approaches each child individually as to what course of action is best. Some kids need firmer discipline, whereas others only a word will do.

We need to stop going across the board and say that spanking is illegal or immoral. That is foolish.

032807 2:55

Answer 3

I have spanked my children, but I also use 'alternative' methods of discipline as well. it depends on the situation and the child. Children respond differently to different things, and it also varies with age. I have never hurt or bruised my children, I never hit out of anger. And I have never ever had to leave a restaurant because of my children misbehaving, because they know how to act in public. Both my children are well behaved, well adjusted, and both make honor roll at school routinely.

Let's say you have a young toddler who doesn't yet understand right and wrong, or even what 'no' means. This child has a fascination with an electrical outlet. Can you watch this child every moment of everyday? You have to use the bathroom sometime. I have seen through personal experience that smacking the child's hand lightly when saying NO firmly does work. The next time the child reaches toward that outlet they look at their hand and draw away. So lets weigh it out, a little smack on the hand vs possible death.

Answer 4

Spanking is an effective form of discipline. There is a difference between abuse and discipline. I spanked my daughter when she needed it and she is turning out to be a wonderful, well-behaved, respectful young lady. She is a joy to be around. Why? Because she was raised with discipline and guidance. Oh, yeah, kids these days are great! Carrying guns to school, beating homeless people, doing drugs, getting pregnant at very young ages. And all since the new parenting "tools" such as time-out have been employed in recent years. You didn't see that stuff even 10 years ago, when parents actually did discipline their kids. What does that tell you?

Answer 5

while i do not condone abuse of any kind, spanking can and should be used for some children, depending on the child depending on the problem. Take a look around look at all the brats they are everywhere. Most often stemming from homes with zero discipline. Parents need to take back their home front and discipline these children, if that takes a swat, so be it.

Answer 6

It's easy to point the finger at others. I don't think spanking is effective as discipline, because there are so many mixed messages. A parent doesn't want to spank a child in public, because he or she might face ridicule. Therefore spanking at home becomes impossible, because the rules for "out" have to be the same as the rules for home. That leaves parents with very few effective discipline techniques to choose from.

And sometimes kids throw fits in resturants, and their parents have no choice but to suffer and eat their food. Sometimes you're on vacation with kids, and you don't have anywhere else to go to eat. So give those parents a break! You don't know what the situation is!

Answer 7

let parents raise their children the way they want. spanking and beating are completely different. i have seen some people take it to the extreme with it and i don't believe in that but a spanking every now and then is ok. but for me i don't think any type of discipline works. my son is 2 and with any kind of punishment he goes back and does it 2 seconds later. children that age either don't remember what just happened or just don't really care.

Answer 8

It worked on me.

And no my mother isn't lazy. She's one of the most driven and educated people I know.

If she had told me to sit in a "naughty chair" and take a time out...I probably would have laughed and then thrown it at her.

Parenting is a job best left to the discretion of the parent.

Using a method that differs from yours does not make it the incorrect method, it just may be the one that works on that particular child.

Long story short.....

Mind your own business and let parents mind their children.

Answer 9

How I choose to discipline my children is my business and my husbands business and no one else's. No one knows them like we do, and quite frankly I could care less about the opinions of anyone else. The old "It's the lazy way out and all kids who are spanked grow up thinking violence is ok and blah blah bla" arguments just don't hold up anymore, as there are generations of good people and responsible adults who can prove otherwise.

Answer 10

Ignorance? Now I take objection to that. When kids are small, 2 - 6, their reasoning isn't like yours. But they do understand a swat on the butt! Does that make you bad parent...hell, no!!! Eventually that child will learn to respect you from that little swat on the behind. "Spare the rod, spoil the child" is still true. AND...you know, visiting day in jail is usually on Thursday!...Godloveya.