What do you all think of spanking vs punishment for kids. I was whipped when I was younger and when I was older. Some parents do not agree with it and think punishment is better.

Personally I think both are effective and it might vary by the child. What do you think about it? Some people even want to make it illegal which I think is taking it to far.

I see no problem with a spanking. That is a swat on the bottom,not a beating. I think it also depends on the offense and age. I feel little kids that are doing or about to do something dangerous need the swat. Other infractions require an appropriate punishment. I feel that punishment should be constructive. I would sometimes make my kids read an encyclopedia or dictionary for a period of time,out loud.. They are great at spelling, have an excellent vocabulary and quite knowledgeable now. Some times as in my Martial arts school they will perform an excercise. That goes for me too.

I hear stories of the old days when my pops and my dad told me of how they used to beat kids in school with a giant paddle. I was told the kids rears came off the ground with each hit. Plus the tales of the "large" bamboo pole for a switch in the closet from my dad.

I'm an old fart and can remember the fact that my father would make me feel guilty for what ever the offense was and then go make me look for "the belt" which was never in the same place. Granted I had three brothers which had it's effects not only on us kids but mother as well, but dad never took into consideration that mother had a right arm like a Greenbay Packer and could and often did deliver an effective right cross that would have made Rocky Graciano proud.

On a more serious note, there are some children that can be reached by talking to them, and then there are those that just plain need to know that they will be punished (within conventional reason) for their misdeeds.

On a side note...my younger brother wears a scar on his left eyebrow where he ducked one of mother's right crosses and struck his head on the corner of the kitchen counter, mom laid off for a short while after that one.

I am of two minds when it comes to this topic, because corporeal punishment can be abused by callow and stupid parents who are no better than brutes, and yet on the other hand, can also be one of a considered, effective, and consistently applied range of punishments by other parents or guardians who take the age of the child into account. In the best of all possible worlds, corporeal punishment would be unneeded; but we all recognise that this is the ideal and not actual practice.
Transitional now in many areas, society cannot clearly distinguish between obvious child abuse shown on the marks on the backs of children, and a mild spanking, and seems to want to err on the side of extreme caution by preventing both.
Z

If we saw a person whipping his child in public, most of us would instantly think it was horribly cruel and instantly intervene. So does whipping a child in private make it any better?

If we saw a person swatting the bum of their child in public for misbehaving, chances are most of us would be silently cheering.

Guess if we would be scared or ashamed of applying a particular physical punishment in public, we should surely refrain from doing it in our homes too?

Personally I see no problem with parents disciplining there kids at home (I have no kids of my own), and in public if really needed. it would be better these days if you simply took them home right there and then to give them their spankin (would give you a chance to cool off) but that wouldn't always be practical. I've gave my nephew a spankin once when he was 5(?) , just one swat , plus it was rather a suprise to him when it happened, which I think had more effect than the fairly light swat, and has done what I ask him to do every time now (he's 10). I got the "board of education" a few times in school (2-3) the last being High School , there was three of us (something about firecrackers in the hall and running across the grass ) and it was a custom built job , a two fister about 8 inches wide and the paddle part was 2 feet or so , with a series of 1 1/2" holes in it , we each got one whack , and if our feet didn't leave the floor they came close . of course 10 minutes later we was laughing about it , (but none of us ever ran or walked on the grass again ) I could tell you stories about my Dad, but "He's dead Jim" so I wont.

Beating and spanking are two different things. I would not butt in for a good whipping as if they parent were to do it in public I bet the kid needed it.

Then it's also okay to whip some elderly dependant on you adult that annoys the heck out of you, too?

What meazures of punishment that happens in the home,to these infants,we aren't aware of. In public, if a child is out of order,then Psychology should be used, and if that fails,either take them to the car and don't make a public spectacle,or as a last resort,I don't see any harm with a tap on the Butt or the hand.
Only once, I intervened and copped a tongue lashing as loud as she could to draw maximum public attention.
She hit this child about 2 yrs old across the side of the face,so hard, that it knocked him over.
I saw red and reminded her of the Childs age and I thought it was over the top.She said,mind your own F#$$$##$%%4 business,so I left it at that. I will not intervene again,just feel that some Mothers don't deserve children.

A "tap on the butt" yes, a slap(hit) hard enough across the face to knock the child down, Hell No. If I saw that around here I wouldn't hesitate to tell the cops as that's just out of control, and I would make sure she knew it. there is a big difference between a 2yo and even a 3yo in what they are able to comprehend as wrong, discipline needs to be kept a consistent level, it's inevitable that a child will push the boundaries (and your buttons) of what is acceptable, and if they can't react with out flying into a uncontrollable rage then they need to seek help, whether voluntary or court mandated. every time I hear of a parent, babysitter, friend, etc..., being arrested for "shaken baby syndrome" I wish for nothing more than "5 minutes alone" with them.(but I digress) In summary : a spanking (how firm depends on age) yes , after the age of lets say 6, there are more effective measures I believe, as in "no TV"(or vid games) , "no Bike" etc. (I like the making them read out loud part from boopme )

This post has been edited by no one: Oct 27 2007, 12:43 PM

If a child is to learn correct behaviour, it seems to me that the kinds of punishment should be consistent either in public or in private, and that it should happen as soon as possible after the offence.
Z

Indeed yes, for if we wait an hour or two before punishing little ones I suspect they are much like our wee furry friends and simply forget why we're doing it and undoubtedly must think us twice as harsh, Zarathustra.

I admire you immensely for stepping in when the mother was whopping on her little one, DSTM - good for you! Yipeeeeeeeeee! And good for no one to agree that any slap hard enough to knock a wee one down crosses from punishment to abuse and can't be ignored.

Oh dear, I bet your poor mom still mentally cringes when she sees your brother's facial scar, dc3 - wonder how your siblings and you yourself feel about 'corporal' punishment. Gentle sigh.

Diapers are a great thing - the smack on the bum doesn't physically hurt as much as the indignity of it all and usually by the time a child begins school, for myself at least, the need to physically reprimand a child is pretty much over. From then on it's a much harder struggle to discipline when teaching children that we use words not fists or violence of any sort to settle disputes or misbehaviour.

I'm honestly struggling to understand and perhaps I misread the comment, "I would not butt in for a good whipping as if they parent were to do it in public I bet the kid needed it". Wonder at what age this would be acceptable, if any? I ask because while, I could be wrong, how do we teach older children respect both for themselves and others if a 'whipping' is acceptable, especially in public?

This post has been edited by Mara: Oct 29 2007, 07:10 PM

It depends on the child. Some kids are deterred more by physical punishment than a loss of privileges. I used to be spanked when I was a kid, but it didn't work nearly as well as removing my video game privileges. So my parents stopped spanking me and began restricting/grounding me from video games. I am also a full supporter of corporal punishment, even in schools and such. But it ultimately depends on what the child best responds to.

Corporal punishment of your small child in school? Who or which teacher would decide what warranted corporal punishment?

This post has been edited by Mara: Oct 31 2007, 04:20 PM