Spanking

[Kylana]

Do you think parents should spank their children?
No, I don't think it's necessary. My parents divorced when I was young, and they had two drastically different views on discipline: my mom would respond with violence but my dad would be disappointed. As odd as it may sound, I would take my mom's punishment every single time over my dad's. His hurt so much more because I always felt like he cared more about me, and that his view of me meant everything.

Would/do you spank your children?
Nope, see above. That's not to say if my child is about to put their hand on a hot stove after being told no that I wouldn't quickly give them a tap on the hand, more to persuade them than anything. I'm not talking rapping on the knuckles with a ruler here, just a "Hey, pay attention!"

Do you believe that spanking causes repercussions such as character or social development?
I think it's very likely that bringing violence into the house, especially that early, has a negative effect on development.

Were you spanked as a child?
My mother was rather abusive; some was spanking, but most was whatever she had in her hand at the time. She actually had a saying about wooden spoons--"They're cheap and come three to a pack". My dad spanked me once, if you can even call it that... it was more of a pat on the butt when I was really young, and I cried so long over that.

Where exactly is the line between spanking and outright abuse? (If you believe there is one.)
I can understand leaving a red mark (one that fades quickly), but anything more than that is bordering on abuse. The point is to discipline, not to actually hurt your child.

[Twigg]

Do you think parents should spank their children? I'm on the fence. If they did something truly bad, a spanking wouldn't do any harm. But if they're just talking back or just being temperamental, then I don't see any need to. But I wouldn't bring out the belts or anything.
Would/do you spank your children? Like I said, it would have to depend on what they did.
Do you believe that spanking causes repercussions such as character or social development? Honestly, no. I can see where people would think that, and I'm not trying to start anything. But I was spanked as a child, and so were a lot of my friends. And we turned out fine. I think I see more kids who don't get spanked act out more than those who did. On some level it teaches more discipline.
Were you spanked as a child? Yes I was. And as I said before. I turned out just fine. No social issues, I don't have any violence issues. I think it depends on how often the parent spanks the kids.
Where exactly is the line between spanking and outright abuse? (If you believe there is one.) Spanking for me, would just be one or two spankings for whatever it was I did. Abuse would be hitting them way too hard, or hitting them with a belt. Or just spanking kids for every single little thing.

[Graymalkin]

It all depends on the child.
My family never "hits" the child.
A smack on the hand, or upside the head [ now that we are older ].
When younger it was a tap on the bottom or the hand.
My drama queen sister ALWAYS even when little,
had a screaming fit after being tapped, or told she was wrong.
Even now, it ir awful you would think a bus hit her.
Or that she had been shot or something.
Anyways, a spaking never worked on me though,
looking back I was never mouthy, I did everything I was told.
The parents were just abusive [ I live with other ones now ].
I had the belts, wooden and metal spoons, the hand.
Although if my mothers boyfriend hit me I wouldn't sit for a day or two.
When he smacked me he hit me hard, but it was not a spank.
So I think a "spank" is alright, especially if they are hysteric.
Although I would try to calm them down first.

If I ever had the treatment my siblings get, man it would have been better.
I still feel bad for my mom and her weakness of not leaving him.
Seven years of abuse she tolerated, me as well.
I was thrown into walls, glass doors, coffee tables.
Anything he had at hand would be thrown.
My mother mainly got pushed around, his voice scared me more than anything else though.
I would have rather he said nothing and hit me than yelled.
To this day yelling still scares me more than being hit.
I hate it, I wish I had this mild version of spaking.
One pat on the arse should be all it takes, if not DO NOT hit them again.
Ugh, damn parents..

[Vidd187]

[SenselessPi]

I think parents have the right to give their children a good swat if they misbehave, especially if they did something wrong on purpose. My parents did for me, and I turned out just fine, so I have to say that it doesn't cause trauma if you utilize it properly. Properly meaning less than three smacks with the palm of the hand to the rear end. Children aren't as fragile as we think they are and can handle a pat to the behind.

To a lot of parents, spanking also hurts the parent. When it's necessary, they have to strike the child they love in order to keep them from doing something that could hurt them or others in the future. That was how it was for my parents. My dad would always hold his children after a spanking and tell us how what we did was wrong, and how much it hurt him to have to correct us since he knew we should know better. The only times I was ever spanked were times where I knowingly did something I wasn't supposed to, such as lying. All the other times, just hearing my dad shout at me for something made me feel bad, and believe you me, he was one of those "bark is worse than his bite" types.

If I have children, spanking is going to be an option, and grounding is going to be the follow up to one. Does that make me an awful, evil person? No. It just means that I won't let my child walk all over me as I've seen other "time-out" children do to their parents. A pat to the butt and being stuck at home instead of out having fun will do just fine.

[newdivision]

[Odd]

My parents spanked me as a child, and I'm a better person for it today. If I ever have kids, you can bet money that I'll spank 'em if I think they have it coming. Flat of the hand only though, no belts or such-like. I think the comedian Dylan Moran said it best in one of his skits:

[Nyanroll]

Do you think parents should spank their children?
- Yes, I do. By not showing the child what happens when they get in trouble, that's just reinforcing the behavior, by letting your child get away with what they're doing. If they know that you won't do anything about it, they'll take it as far as they can. That's how children think. That gives them power over you. Spanking them not only lets them know who's boss, but it also teaches them a lesson. It reinforces the fact that they shouldn't do something when you tell them not to, also.


Would/do you spank your children?
- If they deserved it, yes, I would.

Do you believe that spanking causes repercussions such as character or social development?
- Depends on if it's just teaching a child a lesson or downright abuse.

Were you spanked as a child?
- Yes, I was.

Where exactly is the line between spanking and outright abuse? (If you believe there is one.)
- Believe it or not, there's a fine line between spanking and outright abuse. I've been both spanked and abused. Spanking is just reinforcing a parent's role in the fact that what the parent says goes. Period, end of story. Abuse is hitting the child for no reason or for something trivial or taking things way too far when spanking, as in hitting them with something other than your hand or hitting them so many times that they cower when the abuser or anyone else raises a hand or anything of the like. For instance, hitting with a wire hanger, a vacuum hose extender, or a leather belt buckle. Yeah, those hurt really bad, I should know. Abuse can also be many other things, too, not just physical. Sexual, emotional, and even spiritual. There are many forms of abuse.

[BubbleTrouble]

Do you think parents should spank their children?

Not really, children respond better to talk theoretically . Every child is different, for some spanking may be the best option, personally I don't believe that though.

Would/do you spank your children?

No. I might give them a slap on the hand if they were about to put their fingers in the electrical socket to stop them, but I don't really believe in slapping children.

Do you believe that spanking causes repercussions such as character or social development?

I've been doing a diploma in child care and from what I've read, it might. I didn't really look at spanking so much as slapping, but I think it comes down to the same thing.

Were you spanked as a child?

No. Not that I can remember, I think my Mom slapped me once but I was probably about to do something dangerous.

Where exactly is the line between spanking and outright abuse?

The line is when you just spank your child for no reason I guess.

[Iregyura]

I think that parents should spank their children if they're really, really naughty, but not often or for silly things. I would spank my children lightly (but I don't have them in reality) if they were really bad kids and needed teaching, but I think that sometimes teaching them verbally between good and bad is also another way. I think that sometimes being too violent with your children lead them to be violent to other children and being too rash out at other people. They would think more harshly of things, and wouldn't let something go with just a lame excuse. I weren't ever spanked as a child, but I often was punished with a hard pinch on the cheeks (my cheeks aren't stretchy, so it hut a lot...)
I think that the line between spanking and abuse is what you do with your children. I mean, if it's just spanking or taking a ruler and rapping them on the knuckles is spanking, but if you take a pole or something like a weapon, such as a knife, poker (Sorry I read this from a book...) or other things that causes wounds that internal (not like bruises), then that is abuse. But really, I think that spanking is OK, but only lightly. I don't believe in harsh spanking.
By the way, the book I mentioned I read above was a book I read like a million years ago, but it's about how this girl's dad left them, and she looks just like that. Because of that, her mom hates her and abuses her. Her mom got remarried to a man with two children, one a boy and the other a girl. They are like 4 and 8 while the girl is 11. She often gets abused and have to get stitches because her mom pushes her off the stairs or throws a knife or boiling water at her. Whenever people get suspicious because she gets so many wounds and that her mom says that she is just "clumsy," they move immediately to a new place. This time, she meets a kid that had been held back in school because he has some bone disease. So they become friends, but he's not really that important. One time, because her mom's scared of dogs, and they were keeping one secretly, her mom went into blind anger and beat her and her stepbrother with a poker (yes, this is where I got that idea above) and she fainted. Later, she and her stepbrother and stepsister go to their grandmother's house. When her stepfather comes, the grandma explains everything and then her mom was found out that she has problems. So the book basically ends like this, but I thought that the mom was really stupid.
P.S
the book's really easy to read, like 4th grade level. Like I said, I read it a million years ago.

[saya_parker]

I'm not sure is spanking is ok or not it all depends on the age and what they did wrong.
Is spanking mentally bad and will it mess a kid up? No spanking is not bad if the parent is explain why they are getting spank if they don't do this it would be wrong since they wouldn't know why they are being spanked and know how not to get spanked. Though no matter how you look at it every one will be messed up in some way by the age of 15 anyway.

[Iregyura]

I agree with Saya Parker. I mean, spanking may mess up some kids. Plus, it kind of also depends on the kid. If he's like not listening over and over again, then you can get mad. If it's only once or twice, I guess that's OK

[Chaomiles]

Lol, agreed xD
I weren't spanked as a child, but I wouldn't do it D: Poor children xD

[Sailor_Gunner_Cat]

Do you think parents should spank their children?
I think parents should spank their children. It seemed to work for me and all of my friends. I think there is a difference from hitting your children and spanking them. Spanking them is in a fairly padded area on the human body where it's not going to hurt a child as much, as compared to just smacking the crap out of them. That can actually do damage to them.

Would/do you spank your children?
I plan on it. With in reason, really only for corrective purposes when their really young. Most likely only before they enter school, and just for behavior issues, like being a brat and throwing temper tantrums.

Do you believe that spanking causes repercussions such as character or social development?
I don't think it does. In excess anything can cause problems. I think if spanking is not used to often and for consistent things, it won't cause problems. Also I think that after a child enters school it really shouldn't be done anymore. I think the child is to old and that it will bother them more then it would a younger child.

Were you spanked as a child?
Yep. I don't think I turned out to bad for being a spoiled only child. My friends tell me that I can be to polite sometimes.

Where exactly is the line between spanking and outright abuse? (If you believe there is one.)
I think it's hitting the child, spanking is in a specific area. If you venture out of that area, say hitting them upside the head it becomes abuse and is no longer spanking. So spanking should only be done on the bottom, and with the hand. Using tools is borderline abuse. My grandparents used switches and leather belts on my parents and that was acceptable for the time period. Now I think it's looked down upon, I'm fairly neutral on it. But I don't think you should use anything that could possibly scar a child.

[killerkitty]

Do you think parents should spank their children?
It's necessary for straightening bad children. Just scolding them doesn't work, as I have sadly found out with my little step-sister. She behaves so horribly, and my parents don't seem to do much about it. It sometimes make my eyes sting with tears of pity and anger watching her grow up rotten. I sometimes tried to do something about it, but my parents just start shouting at me instead of her. And the worst thing is that she's corrupting my other younger sister, who adores her.

Would/do you spank your children?
I would, if they behaved really badly.

Do you believe that spanking causes repercussions such as character or social development?
It's meant to. In a positive way, of course. To try to teach them how to behave properly and not do anything bad.

Were you spanked as a child?
Not really. My parents had no reason to spank me.

Where exactly is the line between spanking and outright abuse? (If you believe there is one.)
Well, one thing is spanking, like spanking the hand or the bottom, but abuse is like knocking them on the head or pushing them around, or using things other than the hand. I would definitely not do anything more than a spank.