Spare the rod, spoil the child.

I do believe this biblical reference is misinterpreted. My thinking is we as adults look at a child and say not to hit or punch. Than as punishment what do we do? We spank or hit the child for punishment. I think that is sending the child a double message. No as a child you can't hit or punch but as a adult it is allright to do this. I think there is a different way that a adult can deal with a child. I am not saying that all spanking should not be done. But pick the appropriate time and place to use this kind of discipline. Use other methods before using the spanking method. My grandkids are 10, 12, and 13 and my son doesn't have to resort to spanking to discipline his kids. And he has very well behaved kids and they also are very polite to other people and respect adults.

I think all this "research" and the lack of disciplining children (when needed) is why society is going to crap. Have you seen the latest girl fight video on the news lately? One of the parents actually had the nerve to say it's YouTube's fault. Give me a brake! You can use the rod (your hand) on that behind when they're young or you can let the law handle it when they're older. Cheers, E

Good point, but it is still the same in the end, if you don't provide some kind of guidance, if you allow kids to do what ever they want they will be spoiled.

You have a great insight. I like your perspective. I have never really thought of this verse in the way you have just presented. But nevertheless, I agree with you and the Bible. If parents fail to train their kids whilst they are young then it would be very difficult to discipline them when they get older.

A rod is not only referring to something the shepherds use to guide the flocks. It can mean something we can use to discipline our kids. God made a soft spot in our "behind" for disciplinary purposes. As long as spanking is done in a proper and biblical way, it will help the child because that's the promise of God. There is a time in a child's life where you don't use the rod because as you mentioned may lead the child to violence that's why the bible also says, "provoke not your children to wrath".

I totaly agree with you. If you look at shepards they did not use the rod to beat the sheep they used to guide them. You know you have a point about the violent aggressive behavior. Everyone is saying that the children of today are so violent because parents are not allowed to spank their children. The only problem with that theroy is if you look at the childhoods of violent criminals you will find that if they were not beat they did have spankings. From experience I will say that I have spanked my son. That once was our last resort when punishing him. That all changed whe he turned around and spanked his brother. His brother in his mind was doing something wrong and he punished him for that. Here I was telling him that it is wrong to hit people and yet I would spank him. Imagine how confusing that had to be for him. Spanking is no longer allowed in my house.

Glad to see that there are others out there who have been taught this meaning of that phrase. I firmly believe in guiding and teaching my children, and use discipline to do so....but in 22 years of parenting, that discipline has never had to include hitting any of my three children. I think spanking is an easy way, but not necessarily the BEST way, to teach a child right from wrong.