Should you be able to spank your child?

Question

If your child screams, hits or just does not listen should you be able to spank their butts?

Answer 1

Spanking is a tool. It should not be the first choice, but it should be available to the parents.

Spanking is not child abuse, it is discipline. It should not be done in anger, nor should it involve anything but a bare hand to the buttocks.

Parents need to be parents, not friends to their children. They need to set limits, and if those limits are passed, there needs to be consequences. A quick slap on the rear will get a child's attention, and let them know that their behavior is not acceptable!

Answer 2

Yes you should be able to spank your child.. is what butts were made for.. :) it is the problem with the young adults today, parents hands are tied.. I had a few spankings when I was a kid.. and I thank my folks every day for that.. because I respect other people, and their property, I do not hurt people, I share, I do not break the law, I respect the elderly, .. this list could go on and on.. in all honesty, I did not spank my kids much when they were little.. no need to.. other than smacks on the hands for touching outlets and whatnot.. when my son was 12, he was mad at me and told me to 'shut up' instinct brought the back of my hand right across his face.. he never did it again.. :) Guess he had to try though because all of his friends parents allowed their kids to do that.. .. parents and teachers hands have been tied.. sooo.. I am glad that I will more than likely be dead and gone by the time that generation gets to rule this country... if your kid hits you, hit them back, let them know it hurts, if your kid bites you, bite him back.. nip these things in the bud.. then there are no problems.. like I said. if my kids needed it.. they got it.. which was not often, no parent likes to resort to that.. but its ok.. (as long as a child psychologist with NO kids and NO experience lives next door haha) Have you seen what kids do now for fun? Example... this little old lady, lives 2 houses down, and some kid keeps going to her house in the middle of the night, pounding on her door, then running.. ... in the mean time, she about has a heart attack every night.. my dad would have beat my *** for that.. and ya know what? My son figured out who was doing it, and helped her out.. Spankings are ok... beatings are not.. there is a difference..

Answer 3

Absolutely, trace back the decline of respect children have for adults. It started in the late 80's early ninety's when the "STATE" got involved and started telling kids.."hey if your parents spank you, you can us and we will take to a magical place called foster care". I am not saying we don't have an abuse problem in this country, but a good old fashion butt whooping is not abuse. Now we have a foster care problem because the magical foster parents are abusing the kids to get a check. Now we have a juvenile crime problem because parents are afraid to discipline the kids because of the threat of the magical foster care peeps coming in. I see nothing wrong with a swat on the rear. Bleeding hearts need to see the difference between discipline and abuse. The principal of the school can swat my kid, but if I do they could be taken away, what kind of logic is that? Next time your mugged and beaten by a 13 year old, or a 15 year old shoots up a school, don't ask why the parents didn't step in....we are not allowed to anymore.

Answer 4

I am a firm believer in "spare the rod spoil the child". I was spanked as a child and I turned out alright, what I did with my kids when they were younger was give them three chances to make the right choice then if they continued to make the wrong choice, then they were spoken with and it was made clear as to why they got a spanking. Spanking is a very hot topic, it all depends on how you believe....I taught preschool and could see the difference between the kids who parents disciplined by spanking versus the time out thing. What ever you decide, you need to be consistent.

Answer 5

You should be able to spank her ONLY if she deserves it ... and provided the spanking is age-appropriate.

Spank their butts?
Well, by definition that is the only place where a spanking is given/received. [spanking: a series of vigorous smacks, ON THE BUTTOCKS, with the open hand, or suitable implement, in punishment]

Not necessarily suitable for screaming ... or hitting ... but it sure can get a kid's attention if she does not seem to listen. [Make sure, of couse, that they do not have true hearing impairment].

Answer 6

The word "spank" has different meanings to different people. While most spankings are only painful for a little bit, there is a risk that some people's idea of spanking is equivalent to child abuse. I have been a mom for 28 years to 4 kids and have used a well-timed swat on the behind to help an out of control toddler refocus or let a defiant pre-schooler know I mean business on more than a few occasions. Key to my decision to use a swat: was I in control? If not, I did not swat. I prefer the use of a swat on the bottom as an attention getter and not as a punishment method. Spanking a screaming child, while possibly stopping the screaming temporarily, really doesn't address the issue. Children who scream generally do so because it is an attention-getter or it has gotten them what they want in the past so it's worth their time to try it again. An effective method to stop hitting is to take the offending child very firmly by the upper arm or shoulder and while gripping continuously, speak calmly yet firmly with a little lecture along the lines of, "Jeremy, we do not hit anyone. Hitting hurts people and people are not for hitting. If you want a toy that Lisa has, you must wait your turn or ask Lisa if you can have a turn when she is done. Hitting is not allowed." Keep this up until your little darling begins to squirm a bit from the firm grip and the lengthy lecture. A child who seemingly doesn't listen, really is listening, but what he/she is waiting for is for you to get to the point when he/she knows you finally mean business. Some kids know when mom/dad resort to using the middle name it is time to act. Others know by the tone of mom/dad's voice and the decible it has reached that this is as far as they should push it. Parents must teach their children to listen. What works very well is to speak and immediately follow through. For example, you say, "Charlie, it is time to put your toys away now. Did you hear me?" You count to 3 silently and if Charlie doesn't say yes and begin complying, then go to him, take his little face gently in your hands, turn it towards you and say, "Charlie, did you hear mommy? It is time to pick your toys up now." You may physically have to make him pick up the toys at this point despite his protests that he is not done yet or he'll do it soon. With consistancy and practice, you can get Charlie to say, "Yes, mommy, I hear you." and begin picking up his toys right away. In addition to being a mom, I have also been a licensed child care provider in my home for 20 years. I am not legally able to use physical punishment on the children I care for. I have to use alternative, intentional forms of dealing with children that don't involve spanking. You can get successful results. Even though it takes a bit more work, it is generally longer lasting. I have spanked my children. I think that on some occassions, it is a useful tool if used when the parent is in control with specific intent to change behavior.

Answer 7

Able to spank your child as in legally? That's a touchy issue for most. Ultimately I think it depends on the child and the behavior.

Personally I do not use this method (spanking), but it has been researched and used for decades (more like centuries) and does prove to be effective in some cases.

Where I'm from spanking is allowed- "·The force used must be intended to educate or correct the child;" according to the criminal code of Canada http://www.legal-info-legale.nb.ca/showpub.asp?id=147&langid=1
and from what I've read there are specific ways as to how to spank your child "correctly". From age 2 years to 12 years~ A parent may spank their child as a discipline method on the Buttocks with an open hand, 1-3 strikes. Any actions of a parent out of that criteria is considered excessive a cruel punishment...in other words, child abuse.

I'm on the fence with my opinion regarding spanking... like I said I don't use this form of consequence with any of my children, I haven't really had to- as other methods work for us and I think its important for all parents to try every other possible avenue first before using physical punishment.
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/dca-dea/publications/spanking_e.html

Answer 8

I have never spanked any of my three children and they are not holy terrors. They are honor roll students that have manors and respect their elders. However I have met some children that I would love to spank.

Answer 9

Yes. Spanking is an appropriate form of punishment. A simple swat or two on the bottom is fine.

Beating them, on the other hand, would be considered abuse.

Answer 10

I don't have kids yet but, when I do, I plan to spank them if they arent being very naughty or dissobediant... and not just for any old reason. Many parents spank for any reason and then the kids dont understand what it all means...