spare the rod and spoil the child?

Answer 1

Absolutely! Unless you are saying "[Let us]spare the rod and[instead] spoil the child." I am a firm believer in corporal punishment as a last resort done only in love and not in anger.
My 4.5 year old daughter is not scared of me because of it,(she is very huggy and kissy and lovey)and she is also a VERY well behaved child about 90% of the time.

Answer 2

Don't use a rod!

The people who speak against corporal punishment say that if you hit a child, you will simply have to hit harder next time. There certainly are other disciplinary methods, and if you spend the hours and hours on them with complete consistency, they do work eventually, at least in part.

I started "smacking" when my first baby was about 8 or 9 months, and began fighting nappy changes. I finally realised that a quick smack on the fat thigh would be a lot gentler and safer than the struggling and gripping I was doing. I used my voice at the same time (low pitch). Before long the voice carried the message by itself.

Obviously smacking should never be done in anger, or it will just lead to more trouble and you'll have to smack harder to get the same effect. You don't want the child to be afraid of you, only afraid of reasonable consequences to misbehaviour.

My boys are now 3 and 5. The thing with a smack now is the indignity of it, so one finger placed (not even slapped) on their hand is generally enough to get the point across. Don't forget that your approval is the strongest influence of all: find and give attention to good behaviour more often than you give disapproval. Kids are more manageable if they see themselves as basically good people anyway.

Answer 3

There are other ways to discipline a child, but beyond a certain age spanking and other forms of corporal punishment are useless. I heard of someone spanking a 12-year old boy. All it served to do was infuriate the kid, and to pretty much permanently alienate him to his "parents" - he had been "adopted" by his grandparents, and they were kind of clueless as to how to take care of a 12-year old. A better translation might be "no discipline equals a spoiled brat". Before the age of 2 or 3 a gentle swat on the butt might be appropriate at times, but I think the people trying to outlaw spanking just don't get it - a little discipline that the mind of a toddler can understand isn't always such a bad thing.

Answer 4

All available data shows that spaking is harmful to children, that's why the american academy of pediatrics has strongly denounced any type of hitting of a child by an adult. People who spank their kids probably have good intentions, but if they did a little research, they would see that there is quite a bit of data that shows at best no benefit, and at worst some significant harm to children.

This is even more true in countries where spanking is not universally practiced. In middle eastern countries where spanking and beating children is almost universal the studies show less harmful differences between those who are spanked and those who are not.

Any practice that shows children that violence is a legitimate way to end conflicts in the home is probably a bad idea. Remember, the bible also condones slavery, so if you have turned away from that teaching, maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to turn away from hitting your children to solve problems.

Answer 5

Sparing the rod (not literally) will spoil the child. If there are not consequences shown for their actions they will continue on with that behavior. Ex.: Little Matthew hits his baby sister because she took one of his toys. Little Matthew needs to know that type of behavior will not be tolerated and he needs to be punished (maybe a time out-they worked for me). If you don't do anything about it then eventually it might escalate to the point he feels he can hit anyone to get what he wants.

Answer 6

It is a misunderstood phrase. The rod in question was a reference to the rod a shepherd uses. The shepherd never beats his sheep. If one started to stray he would gently tap the sheep to guide it back to the fold. Therefore, a parent should be gently guiding their children to right behavior. It does not matter the form of discipline, so long as it is administered consistently and teaches the child to behave better. People who do not discipline at all spoil their children because they do not teach their children how to behave in society.

Answer 7

Yes, you spare the rod and the child will be spoiled.

Answer 8

That's what they say, however I have always felt children need discipline and respond well to it, if done correctly. I have never beaten my kids, and I'm dead-set against time outs (useless piece of crap that is).................but I have always talked discipline out with my kids, let them decide with me what is best to do to them (usually housework or yardwork, and after a few days it takes the oomph out of the bad behaviour...lol) and they are both honor-roll students and well-rounded children at the ages of 16 and 12.

Answer 9

Yes!!!!!
Children of a young age have no concept of respect.
So if they can't respect you, they have to fear you for you to be able to control them.
Mine may not have respected my wishes when they had to do a chore but, they were scared of what would happen if they didn't do the chore.
As they got older, they were taught about respect, right an wrong.......etc.

Answer 10

Yes, though it should have started before the child was in grade school. It's not beating, it's correction.