Smacking to do or not to do?
By kiwikidz
@kiwikidz (753)
New Zealand
February 20, 2007 2:54pm CST
As a parent/grandparent and now a great grandparent, I am wondering what people think about smacking your child and what degree of smacking is allowed. The reason I ask is because here in New Zealand there is a bill before Parliament about not smacking and thought I would love to hear your views.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@hoffin (30)
• Australia
20 Feb 07
As a parent of 4 and a grandparent of 8, I am in favour of a smack if warranted....and by a smack, I don't mean a beating! I am of the belief that these days, kids have the edge over society because as parents, our hands are tied by so many "do gooder" laws regarding the punishment of children....and those kids are very much aware of them!
I cannot accept the premise of bribing children (to make them behave) with lollies etc. when they are naughty in the shopping centre for instance...what on earth are we teaching our children by these actions? Surely we can see that children need boundaries and that by overstepping those boundaries, there are consequences!
Lord, get me off my soap box!
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@kiwikidz (753)
• New Zealand
21 Feb 07
Thanks for the comments, I see there are a lot of discussions on spanking at the moment, surely there must be a way to solve this problem so it doesn't go from a spanking to a murder charge which has been happening over here a lot of late, it's really sad to see people hurting because of not being able to control themselves when dealing with children. I wonder how they delt with this problem many many years ago?
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@jackie_mmm (886)
• Philippines
21 Feb 07
smacking is a surefire way to rebellion. Parents smacking their children aren't doing both of them good. Instead they're giving the children an idea that it's OK to resort to violence if somebody else commits a mistake. This is the start of torture tradition handed down to the next generation. Intolerance, impatience and single-mindedness are one of those many attitudes the child develops when his/her parents smack or beat him or her.
@kiwikidz (753)
• New Zealand
21 Feb 07
Thanks for your comments, I myself came from an abusive home where a jolly good hiding was the norm and I didn't want to be like that to my children and keep the tradition alive. I would like to say it never happened but unfortunately I did have to smack when things got out of hand. I would love to be having my kids today and treating them like I do my grandchildren and great grandaughter but I never learn't about timeout etc when mine were young, which I think is quite sad.
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@ddlaurie (132)
• Canada
20 Feb 07
Depending on the age of child and the crime committed. A smack on the but is not to bad. We all had our little spanking when we were kids we did not turn out to bad. Time outs work for most kids. Or even sent to there rooms for a bit is ok.
@kiwikidz (753)
• New Zealand
20 Feb 07
I know that things have changed in some respects since I was a kid, we were given a jolly good hiding if we stepped out of line, my kids were a bit better off though, now my grandchildren seem to get away with a lot more than I would like and now my little great grandaughter is so georgeous who would want to smack her.
@princeworthy (1909)
• United States
21 Feb 07
I depends on what the child has done and the age. If the child is a toddler and has done something dangerous I will smack. If the child is older and has really smarted off to me I will smack
@kiwikidz (753)
• New Zealand
21 Feb 07
An interesting point you make about the age of the child when disciplining, I wonder when these laws come into being will they not allow spanking at all or will it be certain amounts for the different ages, we all know that as children get older sitting them in a naughty spot doesn't quite work anymore.
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