do you spank your child as way of disciplining them?

As a child, I was not spanked, I was beat. There was a 2x4 board that had a handle fashioned to the end and it said, "Donna's Helper." We were repeatedly beat and many times it was due to my stepfather being in a drunken rage or my mom doing as she was told. As a parent now with 4 beautiful children, I try many other forms of discipline besides spanking. However, there are occasionally times when my children will get a spanking. This is done with only my hand and never anything else. I will then calmly explain to my children why they got a spanking and make sure that they know that I love them. I do not like having to spank. However, there are occasions where it is warranted and needs to be used to ensure the safety and well-being of my children.

Hi friends, You know I got spanked when I was young and I turned out to be a very good person and a very good mother. My children did get spanked. In my opinion, by the time you run around and catch the child after he/she has been naughty, the child doesn't even remember what happened. Children have a very short attention span. However, when you spank a child in the moment when they are being naughty, it is immediate. They know and believe me, they remember why they are getting spanked and then, that quick, it is over. I just cannot see sitting there trying to reason with a three year old which is only just learning vocabulary. He/she cannot understand half of what the parent is saying. I have always had compliments on my kids, even now when they are 24, 19 and 16. So spanking yeah.... not beating. Cheryl

i do, when after i told her not to do something and still she does. but i make sure that i am not doing it to release my anger, i do it to remind her that what she did is wrong and i talk to her after wards. i would ask her, does she have any idea why i spank her, which she would answer "yes, i do", then i explain everything. after the long talk, i would ask her if she would do that again then she would answer "no ma, i'm sorry", and she would hug me after and give a kiss on my nose. my daughter knows that i love her so much and i would do everything for her, and when i spank her, i am the first person to feel the pain because i am her mother, and that every mother love their children so much.

I spanked my child on diapers and through clothes; smacked hands until he got a certain age then it was not doing any good ...... When it quit doing any good them were held for special occasions which did not have very many.... I used alot of timeout but mostly I took away things he loved the most such as PS2 games,console,radio,tv,favorite shirts anything I could to let him understand.... I always told him why I was doing it and when he got it back I would make him tell me why I did it and then give him hug and told him I love him..... I might have not been the right way but my child is ADHD with oppositional disorder which both can be have to be controlled with a controlled environment.....

My kid frustrates me several times being a very picky eater and very stubborn. I am hot tempered and loose my temper easily so i do smack sometimes. I get sorry afterwards if the slap was a bit big and try to comfort her and explain why i was so angry so that next time she will not do it again hopefully. i try very very hard to remain clam but it is difficult at times.

Good resource: Parents and Teachers Against Violence In Education: www.nospank.net

I never spanked my kids out of anger, but I have spanked them. I never had to explain to them why I did it. They knew why I did it. I was spanked as a child. Never harshly or out of anger. But when I did something bad enough to be spanked I was. I knew what I did wrong and understood why I was being punished. I never had any anger towards my parents for doing it. I think that they raised me well. I turned into a good person who respects others and follows the rules (most the time lol) I would want the same for my children. Kids are so out of control these days because no one wants to take the time to discipline them or teach them to respect their elders. I try other methods first before spanking but sometimes a quick tap on the butt is enough to get their attention and let them know their behavior won't be tolerated.

Hi Rosey, Spanking is not the right way of teach discipline. I knew this thing very well but as a mother I do spanking sometimes. I think I am handling many things and working too so sometimes I can’t control my anger and it leads to the spanking when they do any mistakes. When I am out of my anger I really felt guilty on this and definitely I sit with my son and speak to him why I punished him and make him realize the mistake he has done. I will ask apology too for my wrong reaction and I will explain the reason, as I am doing many things and sometimes I am getting irritated much if you too do these kinds of mistakes. A warm hug and kiss is sufficient to make him understand. I think each parents know this factor but sometimes can’t, all we are human beings and we can’t control the anger that only leads to spanking to the child. In other situations I will give punishments like not allowing him to watch his favourite program or cut short the playing time etc. In my opinion, handling those kids, if spanking does not work, then the parents should adopt the way of love and care. It works wonderfully.

I got many spankings from my parents, when I was a kid. My brother and sister also got many spankings. I don't know how will I behave when I have children. I have been married for more than one year and now started thinking about having children. Oh, I am so excited about that. I got not only spankings, but my Dad thrashed me many times. I am sure that I won't do that to my kid.

I don't spank, I don't find it educational at all. Well I have to admit it had happened several times to get out of nerves and to tap him on the pampers. But the only effect was that he find it something funny or a new game and just started to laugh happily at my face. So I stated to laugh too and also realized how stupid it was of mine. But I count these like a mistakes of mine. I know parents who practice spanking as an educational method and I really don't think that is right.