[Kitty]

I had a "discussion" with a friend yesterday regarding whether or not children should be spanked for punishment. I have totally different views on this than she does and she got downright aggressive about it (bet you can guess her stance on this subject! )!!

This made me wonder what others think about it. I'm posting this poll just out of my own curiosity....don't want to (or mean to) offend anyone who has strong opinions one way or the other.

Thanks!

[Jodylee]

I spanked my boys when they were toddlers in diapers . It was more of a 'token' spank I think. In hindsight, I believe I wouldn't spank now. Violence begets violence, right?

[AfterMyNap]

Why, you little perv... oh, sorry, my bad.

[Victor H]

When parents do the spanking, then it is OK in my opinion,..., and only if the "violation" by the kid is immoral.

-Vic

[soxmom]

Well, i dont think spanking is appropriate. I have only spanked one of
my four children once. My oldest would repeatedly dart across the street
by breaking free from me. He was three when I spanked him that time.
He almost got hit by a car and I did it out of anger and fright. not hard
but any way.

I have not since spanked again......not any of them. I have heard it
said "Dont spank children when you are angry" well then we might as well
not spank them at all.

I do cringe when I see parents whacking their kids for what seems no
reason at all. That I dont get.

I am not proud for spanking when I did............lesson learned,(side note:'
he never did run across the road again.)

[FinLady]

I'm in the "only when appropriate" category.

I've only been spanked a couple of times growing up. My parents were very big on time outs and stuff, so spanking was rare. Won't go into the reasons behind the spankings I did get, but needless to say - yep, the punishment fit the crime.

[TwoKidsTwoCats]

Originally Posted by soxmom

I do cringe when I see parents whacking their kids for what seems no
reason at all. That I dont get.

That is abuse period. Slapping, knocking around, spanking...whatever is being done... there is no excuse for it when a child is "just in my way". I see many angry parents doing this to children without even thinking about it. My guess is they were treated exactly the same way as children.

My personal take on spanking... only when appropriate. In my home, we "spatted" a childs hand if they were about to get hurt, do damage, or hurt someone else and only if several firm NOs were not heeded. The only hard spanking I ever got was for smart mouthing off to my mom and dad. Same with my two sons, they only got a harder spanking with a paddle because of back talking me or their dad... each tried it at ages 6 and 10. edited to add that it was never hard enough to leave bruising... that was never acceptable..just hard enough to get their attention.

Now my brothers were a different story...they challenged my folks at every turn with smoking, back talking, and attempted underage drinking. Thankfully they learned by the time they were 16. Today, one has two girls he never spanks, but occasionally should! One has two boys and lets say he's getting payback... he does spank, but more often just grounds them from sports and the horses...which just about kills the boys to do.

SO I voted that spanking has its place only when appropriate...just use common sense and know your child.

[kicker]

I don't believe in spanking. I have seen too many children who were physically or mentally abused by an angry parent in the name of discipline. I have never been spanked, my twins never gave me cause to do it to them and we've made it to 16 with no problems needing spanking (I think. We've had some events but got through them without resorting to violence). Big kids big problems. little kids little problems I am told. Hope their sense of right or wrong comes from their hearts and minds, not from fear of being caught and spanked. I would have 8-9 students, many kicked out of public schools for inappropiate behaviors. Never had any problems in class, kids knew I always had respect for them (and always had their backs). I believe spanking gets misused by many who resort to it to attempt discipline. There are other and more effective ways to help develop a child's conscience. Violence is not one of them.

I know sometimes a parent might swat a behind when for running into the street or similar happenings but not as an only tool used for discipline. If violence is only tool a parent thinks right, I don't agree at all with their parenting.

[ali12]

Speaking from a teens point of view .... I think that Spanking IS appropriate but only IF the child is doing something that is really out of order such as hitting, swearing, being really aggressive and nothing else can calm them down etc.

Growing up at School, I have seen a lot of situations where the kids have been really naughty and aggressive to their teachers and the teachers have wanted to say something or spank them but they just can't, even if the kids are lashing out or hitting them because the parents say it is wrong.

I do think that things were better when kids were disciplined (sp?). My parents will tell me off if I am being naughty and I think that is right, it is the parents job to bring their kids up.

I totally agree with everyone elses opinions so far, I do not agree with those parents that hit their kids for what seems like no reason at all. That isn't fair.

I hope you don't mind me butting in here . I totally respect everyones views and am interested to see what most people agree with or thing is appropriate. Great poll!

Alison

[DM]

Never spanked my kids. I cringe when I see someone hit a child or a dog.