General Chat

I must admit that I did smack mine although my son rarely and not after the age of six years as he never gave me cause to. My daughter was extremely difficult and I did smack although I don't think it probably did any good. I wouldn't dream of smacking my granddaughters and nothing would give me cause to.

I think that sometimes parents did it out of fear more than anything, like when a child had done something that put them in danger. It used to be acceptable but I think that it should probably be banned nowadays.

carol.
i was canein school(the first girl) i also had a very hard wooden board duster(remember them) thrown at me by my maths teacher for talking and not listening(i got a B grade c.s.e) so i must have been taking something in.
mum smacked all of us when we were really naughty,and i smacked my children(they have all turned out lovely with no problems)but i do agree that some people go to far,there is a fine line between loving parents and sadistic parents and that i think is the problem,

Muffy - a stern look is the best indication of disapproval, I think, and still is, now they're 28, 30 and 34 lol!!!

Have I told you I have Smiths in my tree? Think I have - yawn :-D

I'd never smack anyone in temper ....I'd be more likely to burst into tears or walk off tbh lol...I don't recall ever having been angry when I smacked...just determined that they didn't repeat their behaviour again......which they never did.

Eldest responds to *I'm disappointed in you* or a stern look.

Youngest is a different matter altogether though thinking about it....she's 8 now........and the last time she got a smack was when she was 4......and I'd do it again in a flash because it was to do with her safety x

My father beat us all to hell.

Mine were smacked but they had to hold out their own hand to receive it. They were told why and what the consequences of what they had done were or might have been, hence the discipline.

Honestly, I have seen some kids who I could cheerfully wallop!

i supose lots will say, i had a slap n it never harmed me, and while that may be true
is it really needed and can it be justified, and what are the boundries???

just bacause it never did any harm doesnt mean its a good thing, i think ya have to look at when did you smack your children, and be honest,

was it to teach them, somthing was wrong, dangerous, or not allowed, while you were calm.

or was it really, because they wound you up and you were so frustrated, you lashed out giving them a smack, because you lost control?

hope tht makes sense i no what i mean lol,

I agree with Muffy - if their behaviour is dangerous, a short sharp slap can work wonders. I remember when my youngest was about 5 years old (she's 28 now and a lovely girl), she was in the back of the car with my other two when I was driving, and she was causing havoc pinching them and generally being obnoxious (more so than usual.) I couldn't concentrate on my driving, so I turned off into a side road, stopped the car, ordered her out and gave her a slap on the bot. She never did it again.

It was the only time I did it, but I felt it was necessary for the safety of all of us.

Hard one, I was slapped at school on leg, and later across knuckles with a ruler (because I was left handed) My father would give me a smack on leg if I was naughty. I did smack my children on the bum 35 yrs ago. Have to say I think I have grown up normal, loved my father. My 3 children have all grown up, honest, trustworthy well adjusted citizens. Did the odd smack harm them, no I don't think so.

Carol

it was acceptable to smack children when mine where young
must admit mine got a slap rarely
but i would be lying if i said not
theres a big diffrence in a odd little slap
and beating a child which i dont agree with
must admit stray was very good as a little girl
but my son was sometimes a nightmare
it never did them any harm
but stray doesnt slap her son i didnt think it would work at first
but it has he is very well behaved
and am always proud of his behaviour when i take him out

so maybe i was wrong

Have seldom slapped my two..though have done so when their behaviour was dangerous and they needed a short sharp shock.

Had a few slaps across the leg myself when I was a child and I'm not a raging psychopath (honest !!!) lol.

I guess it depends on how, why and how hard as to whether or not it should be banned or not.

Personally I don't think you can have it both ways. You can't *blame the parents* when things go wrong..then take away a tool for punishing when necessary..

I'm all for freedom of choice myself. Though I believe there are some that should never be allowed to have children in the first place let alone allow them to smack but that's a different story......

If you wouldn't do it to another adult is it right to do it to a child?

One thing I would say though, having been the subject of constant punishment as a child, is that physical pain is forgettable but mental pain is not.

I don't have children and therefore probably shouldn't comment, I don't believe in smacking animals either but a quick rap doesn't hurt just reminds. (not that I do that either) .
As a child I was never smacked, but reprimanded in other ways.
Personally a child out of control I would smack the same as an adult I would. Not hard but a way of getting attention then reason.
I have seen somebody lose it and smack their child till they bled (and me for trying to stop it) on the otherhand I have seen a quick tap on the hand and a pointed finger which said enough.
Stray you have a point about how would we like it ..that's how I feel about dogs ..but they have to be told and Minx if she fights gets a smack.

:-)

hi straykitten,
i dont know how i feel about it really,i have four children(all adults now)and i did give them a little slap sometimes for being naughty,and i also sent them to their rooms,banned tv,sweets ext...but to be honest they were not that naughty anyway...so i think im sitting on the fence for this one. :-)

i think its a good idea,,,, to ban it
i dont smack my son, i dont tap his hand or bum either,
and altho it was accepteable yrs ago its not now,
i find other way to disipline him, usually just a quick word is enough to stop him dong what he shouldnt, if/when tht doesnt work he goes to his room for 5minute time out,

my littleman is well behaved, has respect for others and i can take him anywhere,

there is nothing worse than being out and about n someone screaming at there child before they give them a "smack" its vile!

i feel there is no need to smack how would we like someones twice/ three times our size giving us a clip every time we did somthing we shouldnt??

here in wales the welsh senedd(goverment) are taking a vote this evening,to ban smacking,if the goes through,smacking your child will be banned in wales in 2014.
what are your thoughts on smacking. :-D