To spank or not to spank?
By kjess77
@kjess77 (40)
United States
November 21, 2009 11:08am CST
A few decades ago, spanking was the norm. Now the majority of households do not spank their children. How and why has this shift occured, and where do you stand?
This is what I think... I think that spanking teaches children that if someone is misbehaving or doing something that you do not like, you should hit them. I would find it difficult to spank my child, and then try to explain to them why it wasn't ok for them to hit their school mate because he took their cookie at lunch. I prefer to teach my children that hitting is never the answer, and there is always another way. I believe in positive reinforcement.
But... I would also like to say that I think some people think that it is ok to spank their children, but they refrain from doing so not because of morality or principle, but because they are afraid of what other people will think or say about them. I feel that this is a shallow reason to not spank, but at least I guess it means that less children are spanked!
How were you raised, what do you think about spanking your children? I would love to know...
4 responses
@bryanwmc (1051)
• Malaysia
22 Nov 09
I totally agree,physical punishment actually may do more harm in that the message given to the child,is that its a solution to many things . What i believe is actually exactly the point i am trying to make,parents of the older generation believe wholeheartedly not to spare the rod and children from then are now the current generation of parents which had been transmitted the message,subconsciously or otherwise,not all of course ,and you can even tell! i have friends who have had the gentlest but strict parents and when i see them raise their children,they emulate exactly how their parents were to them,and results are positively seen in their children,Parents who spank their children i think ,do so because they may be lashing out and responding to their anger in the way which their parents did so to their misbehaviour.
@DarkMarixx (331)
• Philippines
22 Nov 09
Spanking your kids is not a good idea. It may cause of your child's hatred until he/she grew up. Instead of spanking, why don't we discipline them in other way. You're right, hitting could never be the answer. The only reason why we spank our kids is because we hate something wrong with our children.
@TazRes (827)
• United States
21 Nov 09
Hello Kjess77,
When I was a child I was spanked when I did something really bad; which was not that often. I was raised by my grandparents, they would talk to me and explain things to me, and they taught me right from wrong.
When it came to my own children I did the same, although at times I wonder if I should have spanked them more. and leads me to think about that ole saying "Spare the rod spoil the child". I don't like the idea of spanking, only if they've done something really bad.
@AlanKenzo (23)
• United States
22 Nov 09
When I was growing up I got more then just a spanking, my father would whip me with his belt if I did anything wrong, but he would also explain to me why he did it. It was never instant though. I'd get verbal warnings before that and if I went over that's when I was punished.
It depends on the child I believe, Some children understand after a verbal warning but others don't and continue to do wrong, if that were the case, the child clearly needs to be throttled
