Should it be illegal to smack your child?
Scotland are looking at changing their law so that parents who smack their children could end up in court.
The suggestion has been welcomed by children’s charities, and comes as psychiatrist Dr Ronald W. Pies says that smacking children can take a serious toll on their mental health. However critics said it would represent another nanny state intrusion into family life.
Dr Ronald W. Pies, professor of psychiatry and lecturer on bioethics and humanity for SUNY Upstate Medical University said smacking as a form of discipline could be affecting their child’s mental health and can also increase the risk of children developing aggressive or violent behaviour.
Smacking children is banned by law in countries such as Sweden and Ireland.
How did you discipline your children? Do you think parents who smack their children should face prosecution? Or do you think it should be up to the discretion of a parent as to how they punish their child? Would you ever intervene if you saw someone smacking their child?
What are your views?
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And, isn’t that the point ? Lead by example ! Show a child what’s right, not hit them when they are wrong. Firstly, teach them the difference between right and wrong. Secondly, teach them that every action has a consequence, Doing what’s good, is rewarded, even if it’s only the satisfaction of “a job well done”. But ignoring the rules brings sanctions.
Having brought up one “natural” son alone for 9 years, and more than 10 foster children, I – truly – believe that striking a child only alleviates the frustration of the parent. I – personally – would not castigate any Mum who used a tap on the back of a child’s legs as a sanction, but it is rather a moot point. Where does the violence end ?
But, parents – also – need to understand the importance of remaining fair, firm and consistent. Sanctions start at the beginning, not waiting until it can’t be tolerated any further. From a child’s perspective, why is it wrong to repeatedly ask the same question, over and over again, when – occasionally – it actually works ?
Children are born antisocial, and the epi-centre of their own universe. Part of being a parent involves teaching children that we don’t live in a world that revolves around their wishes. Of course, they need to feel physically and emotionally secure, and to be educated. But there is no god given right to being constantly amused, for example. Sometimes, we – just – have to wait for our turn. At a hospital, for example. And it’s never acceptable to run around annoying others, to alleviate that boredom.
The solution, in my view, exists in educating the parents as to how they should educate the children, not giving a tacit acceptance of violence.
In so many cases, it is children having children; grandmothers in their early 30's. No life experience to pass on.
The problem is when you have inadequate parenting skills, when people beat and abuse their children which has been since the beginning of man.
Trouble is, the do gooders are inferring with what is normal, and as usual in todays society, minority wins to the detrimental effect on a more balanced world.
For some reason I could do no right, and was beaten frequently with a belt, handbroom, or anything else that came to hand.
My parents are long dead fortunately.
Murderers cannot be beaten so why should children, children can be punished without physical violence.
I see parents in my local Waitrose cajoling their children and happily reasoning with them, what a difference to life in the 1950s.
There is a distinct difference between a light tap on the hand or leg and hitting a child hard or even using a belt - that is out of order and that should be illegal.