Is an 11 yr old to old for a spanking if she shoplifted?

Answer 1

Heck NO! Sounds like she needs a good one on her bottom!

That is what is wrong with society today is lack of discipline, That is why kids are running around rampant

Answer 2

I think that 11 is too old for a spanking. By that age, they have figured out that it only hurts for a second. What you need to do is take her back to the store that she shoplifted from with the item(s) that she took and make her tell the manager what she did and give the stuff back. It should embarass her enough to have her not do it again.

Answer 3

Spanking is never good for anyone. You need to figure out if this is the result of a personality trait or an isolated incident. If it's the former, you need to do some heavy searching on why this is happening and figure out how to correct it. In either case you should have her take the item back, if she hasn't already, and have her admit to it at the store in public. And then ground her or take away some other privilege for a reasonable amount of time. You might also have her write a 1000 word essay on stealing and honesty.

Answer 4

I shoplifted once when I was 12. Being forced to take the item back and admit to the manager that I had stolen it was punishment enough.

I'm not a big fan of spanking as a punishment for children that are old enough to understand what they're doing. Spanking is basically painful stimuli meant to prevent a child from doing something. Its one thing when the child is two years old, but its not effective for older kids.

I think that grounding (no TV, radio, etc), extra chores, things like that are more appropriate for older kids. It shows them that there are long term consequences to their actions and not just temporary discomfort.

Answer 5

Spanking will only teach her not to steal in order to avoid punishment. The consequences must be related to the offense in order to provide any potential for learning. We don't steal because it drives up prices for everyone, because someone will be held responsible for the missing items, and because there is satisfaction in earning the things that we enjoy. She could be required to publicly return the items, and lose privileges.
The American Academy of Pediatrics does not advocate spanking at any age.

Answer 6

I would ground them, take away everything. Spanking is not going to do much good at age 11. They will suffer for a few minutes and then go off and live their life the way they want too.

If you do not punish so she will never forget she is very much likely to do it again. Punish legally but hard so that she gets the point. Do not let her run over you. Talk to her though and explain why and ask her why she stole. I would specifically ground her. Spanking her may not do much good honestly. Tell her you are doing this because you love her and she needs to learn this lesson now. If she was any older i.e. 18 she would go to jail. Let her know this. She is LUCKY she is not 18 doing this. Save her life by grounding the heck out of her and not letting her step over your rules.

Find a grown up to stand by your decisions and monitor her. It sounds like she needs a positive grown up role model in her life and you need to find someone that will be that for her other than yourself. Role models keep kids from doing bad things. Give her a positive influence-It sounds like she may not have many of that.

Good Luck and always remember to let her know how much you love her. Always-give her a hug constantly even if it hurts you. She will be a loving individual when she grows up and respectful of her elders.

Answer 7

I think at 11 there are probably some much better alternatives that will be a bigger punishment for such a crime.

I don't think a spanking fits something like that, it's too little to teach any lesson of the severity of what the child did...that kind of thing is more deserving of sever temporary loss of things the child feels is important to her, plus being grounded.

Answer 8

At that age humiliation is worse. Going back, apologising in public will leave an indelible memory and hopefully a serious reason never to do it again.
Working off the amount of the item - take off all her privileges as well - will only reinforce the lesson.

Answer 9

No, do what my mom did. She hauled my *** back to the store and made me empty my pockets in front of the owner. I was then told to apologize. Very humiliating and a much better life long lesson than a simple spanking.

Answer 10

surly she is not to old for a spanking, any person that breaks the law should be punished. but please try to spear the rod
maybe it is time for her to see what happens and what might happen to her if she maintains this coarse. so call the sheriff and set it up for her to see what her actions if she decides to keep going down her path but not in the way of scared straight more to inform her that she could end up a place like that and that you love her more that she wants to do those things that might put her in a place nobody wants to be in jail or worse. so if it were me I would hold her tight and let her know what she means to you.

Answer 11

And how is abusing your child supposed to make her not shoplift again? There are more civilized ways of punishment. In this case, perhaps a stay in a juvenile detention center.