I’m wondering general thoughts about spanking, as used with children under 12 as a form of discipline. Do you see it as abuse? Do you see it as abuse only sometimes? What are your experiences?
There is a debate in Massachusetts about the prospect of outlawing any form of spanking or corporal punishment by parents to children under 18. What do you think:
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/4582708/detail.html?subid=22100410&qs=1;bp=t
Spanking is appropriate sometimes, but it should never be because the parent is angry. A weapon (belt, stick) should never be used. And the butt is the proper place for a spanking, not about the head and body.
I was spanked, albeit rarely, and I’m thankful that I was. I learned a lesson from each spanking, and it was not that violence solves problems (Yeesh!).
And I’m so sick of the nanny government trying to tell us how to live our lives.
#1 by jsnduty66 on September 28th, 2009
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beat the crap out of them if they deserve it!!!
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#2 by Rick K on September 28th, 2009
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Spanking is appropriate sometimes, but it should never be because the parent is angry. A weapon (belt, stick) should never be used. And the butt is the proper place for a spanking, not about the head and body.
I was spanked, albeit rarely, and I’m thankful that I was. I learned a lesson from each spanking, and it was not that violence solves problems (Yeesh!).
And I’m so sick of the nanny government trying to tell us how to live our lives.
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#3 by Mo on September 28th, 2009
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its ok but not all the time
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#4 by Sahara on September 28th, 2009
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I think it’s ok for children under the age of 5. But it depends on the circumstances, the situation. Most of the time, no.
It would seem a threat would be enough to deter most kids into behaving if no didn’t work. I have 2 step kids part-time and never has there been a time that it occurred to me to hit them or spank them. Never! If they don’t listen to me the first time, then I raise my voice and yell at them. That doesn’t happen often. Most of the time, it’s just take away the tv or toy. Or give them a chore to do. (put your dish in the dishwasher)
I don’t think the state should be involved here. If the state needs to be involved then it should be strictly educational by way of a marketing campaign. People will get the message.
I remember being spanked as a child but nothing extreme. Most of the time, it was time outs. Spanking ended when I was 7 or around there. It’s when no or reasoning doesn’t work. It was to get me or my brothers to stop what we were doing.
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#5 by Scarlett on September 28th, 2009
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I spank my kids when they misbehave. My children are loved, not abused. And I am complimented on my children’s behavior where ever I go. They are much better behaved than some of my friends kids who are not spanked.
I do feel there can be excess to spanking. It’s a spanking, not a beating. It should be used as a form of punishment along with a face to face discussion as to why the child is being punished. It should never leave a mark.
I don’t think a child above age 12 should be spanked. At that age, they are entering their teenage years and I just think it’s inappropriate. My mother spanked my step-sister when she was 16, and I remember thinking it was just awful. At that age there needs to be a more age appropriate punishment.
Outlawing spanking – please! That is silly! How do they plan to govern it? Government needs to stop trying to raise our children for us. God gave them to us, not them. Focus on the truly abused children who really need their help!
And we wonder why the nations crime rate continues to rise?!?
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#6 by MyKidsMom on September 28th, 2009
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Well I was spanked as a child and I am a well rounded, thoughtful adult who is very courtious of every one.
I do not object to spanking as a form of child discipline. I have 3 children ages 7, 13 & 16 who at times should be spanked. But I cannot remember the last time either one of them was spanked.
I have a very good relationship with my kids. I am raising them the way I wished I had been raised as a child. I usually treat my children as I would want to be treated.
A couple of years ago, I did a paper on this very subject. You cannot go to jail for a mild spanking a child as a form of discipline. If the child is repeatedly spanked very hard causing bruising, welts and so on, yes you can be arrested. Then it is child abuse. When it borders on child abuse is when the law can step in.
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#7 by colley411 on September 28th, 2009
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don’t do it in anger. If a toddler sticks her finger in a light socket, telling her no is not adequate. We’re talking life and death here. You have to pop her on the hand to make SURE she knows not to do that again. The sting of a slap on the hand is nothing compared to electrocution. I think that general idea should apply to any incident where you would consider spanking. I do spank my kids but only when it is truly necessary, and I NEVER spank when I’m angry.
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#8 by l3utman on September 28th, 2009
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The difficulty in answering this Q: is that anybody can have children. If you want to drive you have to test. Most jobs need school or apprenticeship, but parenthood sometimes only requires a bottle of Jack Daniels and about 15 minutes.
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#9 by D and G Gifts Etc on September 28th, 2009
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I think that there is nothing wrong with a parent spanking a child. There is a BIG difference between spanking and abusing a child. As for Massachusetts. I feel it is just goverment once again stepping in where they do not belong. A parent should be able to raise their child in anyway that they see fit as long as the child is not being harmed. Spanking does not harm a child. I am 36 years old if you ask anyone my age they will tell you that we not only got spanked by our parents but by other parents if they caught us doing something wrong, by the principal at school if we did something wrong etc. We all pretty much turned out okay.
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#10 by velvetca1972 on September 28th, 2009
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I believe that if it is done with love and in the spirit of correction, not in anger then the state has no right to interfere. We are held responsible for the wrongs our children commit, but unable to correct them and teach them? This is a good view of what has corrupted our country! The consequences do not fit the crime! Having said this, I do not believe spanking an older child is effective, spanking should be a discipline tool for a child under the age of reason. Children of this young age do not think the way adults do, nor are they able to reason in the same way, they see things totally differently than an adult does, and therefore must be corrected in a manner fitting with their mental status. If redirection doesn’t work a small smack on the bottom or hand can often keep a small child from repeating an action. And let’s face it, at that age they want to try anything, a small hurt to deter them is far more humane than allowing them to truly hurt themselves and perhaps do permanent damage. It is the parents JOB to raise their children, to teach them how to survive in this world, to teach them the rules of society so they may not only function but thrive, for hundreds… thousands of years children have been disciplined this way, society hasn’t folded yet! We moved to America for separation of church and state, we need to also strive for separation of family and state!
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#11 by a.vasquez7413@sbcglobal.net on September 28th, 2009
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Spare the Rod, Spoil a child, this saying has been passed down by generations, which means the contrary, A child needs to learn some rules that should be imposed on Him/Her. If they do behaved Badly I do not think it is wrong to spank them, for it, I say Spank not hit them. Also a child when they misbehave, should be set down, by the Parents to give the child that misbehave a lecture, on what it is they did wrong, if they keep on doing the same thing then is, when a spanking should be applied. There should be discipline and respect for their elders or what are we showing the kids who do not listen to reason. what is the world coming to if we let the Kids dictate our actions?
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Been there.