Originally Posted by riskey58

I tried not to spank my kids. But yes there were a few times that I spanked them on the but. But to me there is a big difference between spanking a child and beating.

I agree, spanking and beating are totally different. Spanking is acceptable, but beating is not. Any parents beating their children should be reported to the authorities right away.

I've never spanked my daughter but I was spanked a few times when I was a child. My father always did the spanking but he never hurt me. It was more sound than anything else.

I felt bad afterwards not because of any pain because there wasn't any. I felt bad because I did something that made my dad angry at me.

One spanking I remember was when I ran out in the middle of the street and a car nearly hit me. I know my dad was terrified at that moment and that is why he spanked me. I did deserve it because I knew better than to do something as dangerous as that.

To this day I never cross in the middle of the street and if I ever think of it I remember that day when I did it as a child so many years ago.

I think peoplr forget that type of discipline we used to get as a child. I don't see anything wrong with spanking your child. People tend to confuse spankings with beatings. There is a right way and a bad way to spank your child. But spanking all together isn't bad at all.

I have tried smacking my children a few times but never found it to be effective. I hated doing it and I think that I could not do it hard enough for them to feel it.

I think that if it is done when the parent is controlled - not when they have lost their temper and need to vent, then it can be okay as a last resort.

I use SuperNanny's techniques - I warn them the first time and then put them in the naughty corner (or against a wall) for a few minutes.

There are many ways to discipline your kids and spanking is not a good way to make them a better person. You can talk to them nicely in times of problems. If you will hurt them physically, they will become rebellious in the future.

Nowadays ,the trend in major European and American cultures seems to favor other methods of child discipline and not accept anymore spanking as an alternative .If this is good or bad is yet to be seen in the development of the next generation. If they will be better adults than those who suffered spanking from their parents , than spanking is bad ,indeed , but what if they would be more violently ,addicted and mentally ill ?

Originally Posted by Shelly

I trully do believe that apart from all the 'child protection' laws out there, spanking still has a place. But not beating but abuse, but a quick sharp smack to the bottom can do a world of good if applied at the right time. I would however say to apply them sparingly so that when they do get a spanking they remember it and the reason they got it.

I couldn't have said it better myself, Shelly. A quick smack on the butt for doing anything that puts them in real danger is fine in my book, especially when they're not old enough to understand why they shouldn't do something like run out onto the road.

I used to believe in spanking because I felt that discipline was an important part in every kid's life and that it should be given to them when absolutely necessary and that it was for their own good, but when I finally became a parent myself was when I realized that I just couldn't do it at all.

Maybe it is because my daughter is quite well behaved to deserve spanking which is why I feel she doesn't need it, or maybe I've simply grown in time and transitioned into somebody who doesn't believe in spanking anymore.

I was smacked as a child and felt that it did me good. I cannot hit my own children then, even when I lose my temper I do not hit. I do punish them though and often get complimented on their behaviour so hopefully I am doing something right!

Originally Posted by racheldarcy

I was smacked as a child and felt that it did me good. I cannot hit my own children then, even when I lose my temper I do not hit. I do punish them though and often get complimented on their behaviour so hopefully I am doing something right!

I was spanked when I was a kid too, never did it go beyond the line to the point of it becoming abusive though. I felt it did me some good as a child as well, which is why I believed in spanking for a long time.
However, as a parent now myself, I realized I could not spank my kids at all. I feel that they do not deserve that kind of punishment, and if I feel that they do not deserve it, then I definitely will not be giving that sort of discipline to them., I would hate to hurt them for no reason.