If you were spanked as a child, would you do the same to your children?

Question

There is a research out today from Univ of Bristol/UK that says that you are 3 times more likely to use corporal punishment on your children, if you experienced that during your childhood. I don't really think so, but what do you think?

Answer 1

Ah, there is a reason the Bible says "Spare the rod, spoil the child."

I think it's an effective form of discipline, even though it shouldn't be the ONLY form. I was spanked as a child and I can say that it was very effective. A parent has to be consistent in what they say and do when it comes to discipline and always follow up on their word.

When spanking, it should NEVER be done out of anger. The parent must calm down and explain to the child that he/she loves him/her very much and must discipline them so they can grow up with good character. Also, the child must always be informed clearly of why they are being spanked.

Also, a parent should NEVER spank using their hands. The child must see the hands of the parent as loving and accepting. There should always be a median. My parents used a thin rod from a tree or a belt and they hit just hard enough to where it hurt but didn't leave any kind of bruises or marks. When a child is young, they learn to fear the "rod" and not the hands of the parents.

God created our behinds puffy & padded for a reason! LOL!

Answer 2

I was abused as a child. I would NEVER do that to any child.
I was able to break that cycle when I had a family of my own; my younger sister wasn't.

My girls are 22 and 24 now. I spanked them when it was called for up until they were about 10 years old. (Same goes for any nieces / nephews that have been in my care - WITH their parents' permission!) It really wasn't called for much - the "time outs" and revoking privileges were pretty effective! When they got a spanking, it was a smack on the bottom with my bare hand, or a smack on the hand if they reached for something that could hurt them, like a stove or an electric outlet. Same for my granddaughter...

Answer 3

I was switched with a stick, beaten with a belt, and slapped as a child. I don't know why they did that. They think I turned out okay, but I don't think so at all. I have a lot of anger issues, insecurity, low self-esteem and bitterness. Because of that, I don't want to spank my daughter. Violence isn't the answer. What child could do something so bad to deserve to be inflicted pain from the person who is supposed to protect them? I know in the bible it says "spare the rod, spoil the child", but I always interpreted the rod as the shephard's rod, who uses it to GUIDE (not beat) his sheep.

The other day I saw a child hit another child at a playground and his mom grabbed him and spanked him. I was puzzled. Hit your kid for hitting another kid? What are people thinking? There are other ways to punish a child and the results could be more promising. Take away their XBOX,PS3, Cellphone, Ipod, whatever it is kids carry around these days. I don't know, I'm just as confused as other parents about this subject because my daughter isn't even old enough to understand right or wrong.

Answer 4

Yes I was sometimes unfairly and usually not. I did the same to my children.

There is a difference in an odd spanking for a naughty child and a systematic beating up.

I notice that crimes of violence seem to have increased since spanking was frowned upon and the cane in schools was withdrawn. Do they have a connection?

Answer 5

I was spanked as a child, but it did no good because I still misbehaved and did what I wanted anyways. (I was a very stubborn kid)! All it did was teach me what I needed to do to push my parents over the edge, and I thought it was funny when they would get mad.

So, I am definitely not going to use the spanking approach with my son. I can find much better ways to communicate with him that he did something wrong.

Answer 6

My siblings and I were spanked, as kids. Not after the age of 11, but while were young and ornery and not smart enough to learn from our bad decisions and behavior.

If memory serves, I have only had to spank my son twice. Both times I had started with a less drastic punishment and he continued to push the buttons. After the age of 4 he hasn't had one and I am all too glad.

Answer 7

No I would never spank a child. My father repeatedly spanked me when I was a little girl, mostly with his belt. I realise now (20+ years later) that he was also getting some sort of sexual kick out of this. When I got to about 10 years old I decided that if he ever did that to me again I would kick him so hard between the legs that hopefully he'd die. Luckily he didn't do it again. There is no way that I would want my kids to grow up feeling that sort of hatred & anger.

Answer 8

Yes, I was spanked as a child. That is not the only form of punishment my mother used, but it is the only form that worked sometimes. My children are very small so no real spankings yet, but I have give a swat on the butt of my 2 year old to get his attention. and of course the butt is covered with a padded diaper. Do not beat your children, but sometimes a spanking is in order.

Answer 9

i was raised in a home of abuse for 15 years where i was beaten and punished almost daily, sometimes just because my mom had a bad day and i was the only one around to take it out on. i have 2 boys and yes they have received a few spankings here and there but only as a last resort. i always try something else first like time out or grounding or having things taken away for set amounts of time and usually that is enough, there is a difference between discipline and abuse. one single swat on the bottom is not abuse and sometimes is necessary. people just need to follow their own beliefs and raise there kids the way they see fit as long as it does not get out of control and really hurt the child. i swore to break the chain of abuse that i got and i did, i have never hurt my kids and they are good boys!!

Answer 10

I was spanked as a child. and never repeated the behavior that warranted the spanking. Think about it, people, it's psychological, if you know why your'e getting spanked, you'll forever associate that behavior with pain and thus won't do it again. As far as time out goes, 3 words: WHAT THE HELL??
time out for WHAT?? giving your little brat a few minutes alone to plot about how he'll get back at you and how his next behavior will be 10x worse! thats the truth about time out!!