I do not feel that smacking a child on the behind is a form of child abuse. I was spanked as a child-- but only when I had done something really bad. I knew never to do whatever I had done ever again.

Parents should not spank the child excessively, and I feel that using anything other than the palm of your hand is a bit extreme. Of course this is just my opinion that stems from my own experiences. When I have children of my own, I will spank them if necessary.

I think spanking isn't right. I think it is a form of child abuse, but not an extreme form as beating your children with belts etc. But I still think it is abuse to the children. It can have lasting effects of horrors to the child....I wouldn't spank my children, not lay a finger on them. There is definitly more extreme child abuse out there but spanking is still wrong.

Spanking should only be used under certain circumstances like if a child misbehaves a slap on the butt can't do much harm, it actualy helps hte parents and teh child, parents don't have to yell at the kid for doing the same thing again and the kid becomes more disciplined

but if the privlage of spanking a child is used to much and for no reason then someone needs to take action.

my dad has told me stories of his brothers and sisters standing in a row and they would get whipped with a real whip when they were misbehaving. but back then it was not such a big deal and that would not have been considered a crime, this happened like 30 some years ago so no need to tell anyone

I disagree with spanking. I believe in corporal punishment. Yes, there is a difference.

Spanking is the actual hitting of the child. Corporal punishment combines spanking WITH other forms of discipline. I don't think a child should be spanked every time he misbehaves, but if a child continually does the same thing, something more than a grounding or time-out is needed.

Corporal punishment also involves talking with the child following the administration of the spanking, telling him what he did wrong and how he could have handled the situation better.

If you examine the research studies done regarding spanking, most study just that: spanking, NOT corporal punishment. A UCLA study released in 1999 showed that the number of violent adults in children where corporal punishment was administered was slightly less than the entire population.

The problems with many of these studies lie in that it was spanking only that was administered: in many cases too much and in many cases with sharp objects designed to inflict harm in the child. I fee that both of these are wrong and should be considered child abuse. However, I do not think that spanking, when combined with other forms of discipline, is bad.

I agree find another way of disiplinig your kid, take away candy or TV.

Yeah, and they don't learn anything, because, when they leave they can eat all the candy and watch all the TV they want.

true and then they think when the're older oh my parents did it i can do it too!

I don't think it is child abuse. Yes I do agree that you should not do it all the time. There should be a few things you do before hand. Let them know they're not suppose to do whatever it is they are doing and explain why not. If they do it again, punish them(take away a toy or candy) and give them a 2 second yelling (you know"don't do it again!" or something) If they conitinue, they need to get a spanking. I think that if you don't take the time to explain and talk to your kids and just whoop em, they will never learn right from wrong. I also think that if a situation comes up where a child doesn't stop acting up, yes spanking is necessary. My mother spanked me about 4 times my whole life. 3 I don't remember, but she told me that in each situation she smacked my butt two times and I never did it again.
or so she thinks

This is what im talking about. She has gotten spanked b 4 so she thinks its okay.

I don't believe it is right, because I have gotten spanked, I believe it is neccesary, that some type of discipline is in order after you have taken something away and after you have explained why they arent suppose to do what they are doing,and they continue to do it.

What? Excuse my france (LOL, yes, I meant to say that) are you crazy?

Don't you remember when you were a kid? Weren't you spanked? Maybe not. But still, when used occaisionally for severe encouragement, it can be a useful tool. There are some kids out there that will not respond to you until you make servere consequences. But on the other hand it is not to be used as a main raising tool, but if postitive reinforcement wouldn't work, with many attempts and paitence, spanking could be used as a good enforcement tool.

Ah well,
So is the mind of I.

I feel that spanking your child, when he or she is deserving, is not child abuse. Yes you are causing your child physical pain, however as long as you do not leave, handprints, bruising, or undue emotional distress. There are times when a swift spanking on the bottom is the only way to show a child that they have done something wrong. I also feel that a spanking should be used only as a last resort or when other punishments in the past have gone unheeded.

I am all for spanking...and yes I have got spanked before. When you take privelages away, they will get used to not having it. I watch kids all summer long at my moms daycare. There are some kids there who do not get spanked that doesnt listen to a word there parents say. The parents have tried everything but spanking. For instance, taking things away like candy, or hanging out w/ a friend or having long talks w/ them etc. These are 3 yr o;d kids. They know when they are doing wrong. Then the other kids who parents spank them when they do something wrong, listen to there parents and the teachers. They are not perfect, but they know the consequences if they dont behave.

It causes enough pain to wear they say ouch that hurts i might not wanna do that again, but not to much pain that where it can cause injury.


P.S.-consider us lucky, bak in Bible times, they stoned the kids who disobeyed!

"These are 3 yr old kids. They know when they are doing wrong"
--debategirl88

really?? i babysit a little girl whos 4 and doesnt know whats wrong and whats not...i babysit a lot of kids who dont know whats the right thing to do...some older kids dont know the right thing to do either.