You have probably heard the expression, "Spare the rod, spoil the child." Do you agree with it? Perhaps you were spanked as a kid. Was it appropriate? Some people see spanking as an outdated method of punishment or even child abuse, while others view a swat on the bottom as a parent's prerogative. Where do we draw the line when it comes to disciplining our children?
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A plethora of methodological issues are present in Baumrind's latest study which render her conclusions meaningless. See www.nospank.net/straus10.htm
- LaVonne August 8, 2008 6:41AM
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Side: No
I do not spank my children, and they are not on medication. Sometimes talking doesn't work, but why I should resort to violence instead? My primary form of discipline is helping my child make restitution and solve the problem - if he breaks something, he helps me clean it up. If he is fighting with someone, we work together to figure out why and how sharing and talking is a better way to resove an issue.
How does spanking teach my child conflict resolution?? How does it teach him the natural consequences of his decisions?
Discipline is not "spanking or not discipline at all." What an illogical and dishonest conclusion.
- crunchymom September 19, 2008 3:52PM
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Better Alternatives Exist
- From Center for Effective Discipline
By Center for Effective Discipline
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OK- Spanking IS a consequence!
EOM
- Llantha
July 27, 2008 9:32AM
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Side: Yes
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State Involvement
If spanking is so evil, and children need society's protection, how come the lawless behavior of children has continued to increase with the increasing involvement of the state in family dynamics? Obviously if the No Spanking dictum was actually the best way to go, then with the increasing inability of parents to strike their children for anything (without getting arrested for a crime) the behavior of children should become more orderly and less violent. Am I missing something here?
- Llantha
July 27, 2008 9:36AM
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Side: Yes
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in response to llantha
@llantha
"Am I missing something here? "
Yes, you're oversimplifying. Other societies, with much less spanking than ours, have less violence in their societies. If what you say is true, they wouldn't.
- reckoner
July 28, 2008 11:27PM
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Spanking IS a consequence!
Llantha is right, CED fails to address what the possible consequences are in their "positive discipline" solution. Wouldn't spanking be one of them, and if so doesn't this solution for parenting go before the spanking and really not replace it?
- JRhornet042
October 26, 2008 3:40PM
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Side: Yes
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missing the point, really
There are better alternatives to every kind of punishment. They frequently require going back in time, or replacing the child with an older child, or using some kind of physical restraint that is just as likely to be harmful. No one is suggesting that spanking should be the centerpiece of child rearing - the punishment of choice. You are making the difficult argument - NEVER.
- Adam Hammond
November 12, 2008 3:06PM
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Not Always Effective
What happens when those alternatives to spanking don't work? Sometimes, as a last resort, spanking is the only effective means of teaching children how to behave. A child who isn't spanked often obviously won't enjoy a swat to the rear and will most likely learn from their mistakes so as to avoid the unwanted spanking. Of course there are better ways to handle a situation when a child is misbehaving but sometimes the situation demands a slightly harsher punishment. It really depends on knowing your child and knowing what methods are effective and reasonable.
- krispy
January 23, 2009 10:56PM
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Say What?
Spanking IS a consequence. When i was younger and i was bad my mom would say "You don't want me to get to three!" Then she would start counting. . . ."one. . . twwwooooo. . . " and i would stop every time before she got to three. In fact she still does it today. Why does it would i don't know - but plain and simple: it does.
- Edgin7
January 25, 2009 9:54PM
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Moderation
I think spanking is ok in moderation. If possible, I think parents should try other methods of punishing their children first, and if that doesn't work then they can spank them.
- Kelsey R February 11, 2009 2:04PM
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Leanding a learning hand to children
Exactly! Let children know what yu expect from them. Let them learn patience and control and kindness instead of letting them learn how to hit and scream and lose control.
- Norm44
February 20, 2009 11:36AM
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