If your child misbehaved would you spank/smack them?

I was spanked when I was young when I misbehaved, so were my friends and all of us have turned into law abiding citizens with good jobs and a good sense of right and wrong?

I'm not talking about a beating to the kids but a few spanks across the backside.

yes my children will get spankings, and I am a firm believer in them, I got my butt busted when I was little ( and when i say busted I mean a little pat on the butt - let me tell you though, i thought it was the end of the world)

you don't have to beat your child to make them understand, most of the time when you spank a child it doesn't really hurt them, it hurts their feelings, and they are more scared than anything, they are wonderful actors and actresses and can exaggerate everything....but they will remeber it as the worst spanking in their life, LOL

I don't believe in leaving a mark on a child, that is abuse, but their little tushes are made tough and can handle alittle discipline.

**and it depends on what they have done as well, the "crime" has to fit the punishment...sometimes taking toys away, or time out can be sufficient, but if it is something that was really bad, it can take a spanking for a child the realize how wrong they were. it's a life lesson you are teaching them, so consider how well you want them to remember it.

Yes. Sometimes the threat of a spanking is enough to put her in line.

every child needs to be spanked every now and then. but dont get used to doing it. there are other forms of punishment out there.

It bkeaks my heart whgen I do it but yeah , I have given my kids a quick slap on the backside when they REALLY get out of control and nothing else works

I think spanking is fine, as long as you don't spank in anger. If you do that, you'll only teach the kid anger. I'd highly recommend this book the on subject, "To Train Up a Child" by Micheal Pearl.

You bet. I think that all children nee a swat once in awhile, when they have gone too far.

Yes I was spanked also, and turned out just fine. These days children are so out of control because if a parent spanks their child the child will turn them in. It is outrageous!

I don't know about a direct correlation between corporal punishment and law-abiding citizens. I wasn't spanked and I turned into a hard-working law-abiding citizen as well. Also, I'm pretty sure that the vast majority of prisoners had been spanked as children among other things.

Anyway, I'm not totally against spanking, but I probably won't do it if I become a parent. Besides, isn't it illegal in the U.S. these days to spank kids?

Yes, a smack on the bottom for open defiance but not for childish irresponsibility. Read James Dobson's "Dare to Discipline". Excellent book.

I believe that it is ok to spank them, but not out of anger. You have to do it as a corrective action, and the child has to know the reason for the spanking.

Nothing wrong with that... I was never spanked by my parents or anyone, but I do believe that a few spanks will do the job.

Now... if you go over board and actually hurt them.... then that is completely wrong, the idea is to get the kids to listen and keep them in line

My mom spanked me a few times growing up and I actually preferred that to the YELLING she did! I turned out fine though. I think if the situation calls for it, a firm swat on the bottom is okay. I don't think I would full out spank my daughter. I also do not want to yell at her like my mom did, I think that affected me the most. So, when they get old enough I think time outs and other forms of punishment (i.e. taking things away like TV time, etc.) are more effective.

The spank dosnt have to be hard. Its acutally the thought of spanking and the fright that scares kids. But you can achive effective decipline without hitting a child. Then thats the line between abuseing and decipline.

My 9 month old gets a smack on the leg in dangerous situations (trying to touch an outlet or a house plant) or if he's throwing a fit to get his way, (like in the middle of a diaper change or if he wants on the store floor to crawl around). Most of the time he knows that me saying NO! is enough, But a quick little smack on his thigh reminds him real fast.

I was spanked, so was everyone Ive ever known. The only people I know who hit other people, or are out of control are those who were beaten, but more so, kids who were only told no, and it was never acted on.

Theres a time and a place. But its certainly not when you're angry, or when the child is over tired or overwhelemed.

i believe in spankings as long as you don,t put no marks on them it's OK and let them no what they did was wrong.

yes...a smack on the rear end. Not a beating. Your child should respect not fear you and your authority

Absolutely! Nothing wrong with a good spank now and then .

Yes I choose to spank. That is not our only course discipline in our house. We also use time outs,grounding and loss of privileges. We believe in the old saying"let the punishment fit the crime."

I most certainly will!!

I think a child should be warned, then spanked. Then tell a child that decisions has consequences...and I am sorry...does not fix everything...you get your punishment and try to do better. Then love them up...

A spanking will not hurt a child. Discipline is needed and necessary to show a child that even when you become an adult, you will not be able to do whatever you want, that there will still be rules that you have to follow and people you have to answer to.

CHildren need some kind of serious consequense when they misbehave. Spanking isn't the only option, but SOMETHING that works needs to be done. People today have NO idea how to parent. Just watch Nanny 911!!! People have lost control over their children!!

I have no problem with spanking. But parents should try to never do it when they (the parent) are angry. Even if that means sending the child to his room for a bit and THEN spanking him a bit later.. the child needs to know that the parent is in control of their own emotions.. That's the major difference between spanking and beating.

I think its ok to spank them. I got spanked when I was a kid and I turned out fine.... I think there is a difference between spanking and beating...

Every child is different. I have one nephew that gets spanked and he is the worst, and the other gets spanked very rarely because he doesn't need it. I think the biggest mistake parents make is consistency. If you say get down from there or you'll be in trouble don't wait till he does it five times and then explode with hitting, stop him after the first one and discipline him right there

Yes, now and then spanking is fine.

If I smack my wife, that is abuse. Why isn't it the same for kids?

guilty parent, but more than 3 is child abuse in my book.

No. Spanking seems to be a desperate attempt by parents to bully their kids because they have no ideas as to how to handle them. People will say spare the rod, spoil the child to defend their beliefs in hitting their kid. Another interpretation of that is that Jesus was talking about the rod of the shepherd leading his sheep. He was talking about good leadership in a family, not beating your kid with it!

I have no objection to spanking, but I learned early on that spanking is not very effective with my children. Taking away privileges works much better.

Nope. I feel there are more productive ways to discipline, and that spanking will be more likely to create obedience out of fear of getting hit(which to me is not a good thing). I was spanked, I am a law abiding citizen with extreme hurts and anger issues because of it. I know many people who are wonderful law abiding respectful and peaceful people who were not spanked.

No, I wouldn't.

I was not spanked when I misbehaved when I was young ... I was sent to my room or I lost a privilege I cared about. I have turned into a law-abiding citizen with a good job (well, I'm home raising my kids now, which is also a good job, but i had a good paying job before that), and a good sense of right and wrong. when my kids misbehave they get a time-out or lose a privilege, and they get consistently great reports about their behavior from teachers and parents whose houses they visit.

there are effective alternatives to spanking. they require consistency and work on the parents' part. not disciplining at all is a recipe for disaster. but people who think spanking is the only effective form of discipline either aren't aware of the alternatives or haven't put the necessary work into using them.