Pope says smacking children is okay

[Niamh.]

Thoughts?


POPE FRANCIS HAS said it’s okay for parents to smack their children, once their dignity in maintained.
According to widespread reports this morning, the Pope made the remarks during his weekly general audience.
Speaking about the role of fathers in the family, he said a good father should be able to “correct with firmness”.
“One time, I heard a father in a meeting with married couples say ‘I sometimes have to smack my children a bit, but never in the face so as to not humiliate them’,” Francis said, according to the Guardian.
“How beautiful.” the Pope added.

http://i.imgur.com/xqfD5E7.jpg

He knows the sense of dignity! He has to punish them but does it justly and moves on.
A representative of the Vatican press office said the Pope wasn’t speaking about committing violence, but about helping children to grow and mature.
Child protection
Meanwhile, Pope Francis warned clergy yesterday they must never try to cover up sexual abuse, as a new Church child protection panel prepared to meet for the first time.
In a strongly-worded letter to the heads of national bishops’ conferences and religious orders, he demanded “close and complete” cooperation with the watchdog he has established at the Vatican.
“Families need to know that the Church is making every effort to protect their children,” he said.
The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, which will hold its first full meeting today, has been given a brief to drive reform on an issue that has severely damaged the Church’s authority and reputation around the world.
Headed by American cardinal Sean O’Malley, it includes clerics and lay people from all corners of the world, including two victims of paedophile priests, Peter Sanders from Britain and Ireland’s Marie Collins.

http://www.thejournal.ie/pope-smacking-1923421-Feb2015/

[arista]

http://i3.walesonline.co.uk/incoming/article3157103.ece/alternates/s615/smacking-ban.jpg
Yes Madame
The Pope backs you

[Crimson Dynamo]

irrelevant old fool


:idc:

[Niamh.]

irrelevant old fool


:idc:

This line :umm2:



“One time, I heard a father in a meeting with married couples say ‘I sometimes have to smack my children a bit, but never in the face so as to not humiliate them’,” Francis said, according to the Guardian.
“How beautiful.” the Pope added.

[Crimson Dynamo]

This line :umm2:



“One time, I heard a father in a meeting with married couples say ‘I sometimes have to smack my children a bit, but never in the face so as to not humiliate them’,” Francis said, according to the Guardian.
“How beautiful.” the Pope added.

well he said last month that if someone insults your mother you should punch them:shocked:


"oh this new pope is so refreshing and modern.."

this old fool lies for a living and gets paid to do so

[Crimson Dynamo]

How he got the gig of Boss of Ireland I will never know

:idc:

[Niamh.]

How he got the gig of Boss of Ireland I will never know

:idc:

Not so much anymore :laugh:

[Creggle]

Can only agree tbh, look how children turn out when they don't get a slapped arse, it's never good. :idc:

I'd punch someone if they insulted my mother too, so this old geeza is bang on if you ask me :worship:

[Crimson Dynamo]

Can only agree tbh, look how children turn out when they don't get a slapped arse, it's never good. :idc:

I'd punch someone if they insulted my mother too, so this old geeza is bang on if you ask me :worship:


How would you know how a child who was not "hit" turned out?

[Braden]

I don't think it's ever okay to smack your child.

[Mokka]

It's great,

all I have to do is threaten the kids to convert to Catholicism now to keep them in line :laugh:

[Creggle]

How would you know how a child who was not "hit" turned out?

I have 43,504 children

But seriously you can pretty accurately tell which children are disciplined and which aren't in public, a misbehaving little brat has a PC parent.

[Niamh.]

Can only agree tbh, look how children turn out when they don't get a slapped arse, it's never good. :idc:

I'd punch someone if they insulted my mother too, so this old geeza is bang on if you ask me :worship:

Excuse me I have two children who are very well behaved and I have never laid a finger on them :nono:

Do you think those children who turn out nasty are like that because they're not hit? And how do you know they're not? They could be the ones who do get hit :think:

[Jake.]

does he think he is the Katie Hopkins of the Catholic world or

[Jamesy]

You should be able to discipline your child without resorting to hitting them.

Those who usually hit their kids are those who didn't bring their child/children up well.

[T*]

Can only agree tbh, look how children turn out when they don't get a slapped arse, it's never good. :idc:

I'd punch someone if they insulted my mother too, so this old geeza is bang on if you ask me :worship:
but sticky mouse traps are bad?

[Creggle]

Excuse me I have two children who are very well behaved and I have never laid a finger on them :nono:

Do you think those children who turn out nasty are like that because they're not hit? And how do you know they're not? They could be the ones who do get hit :think:

Then you're a good mother, some parents don't know wtf they are doing and don't do anything and their kids turn out horrible.

Yes some children who act up may be punished, but ones who abuse their parents and throw strops certainly aren't. If their parents are not good enough to discipline them 'peacefully' then there isn't much of a choice of what they can do to make their kid behave. I certainly think making 'smacking' illegal is ridiculous, it's not like parents would kick the **** out of their kid if they could, just need a little discipline. Legit abusive parents will hurt their children law or no law.

but sticky mouse traps are bad?

I don't punch hard enough to make somebody tear themselves to pieces and cause their insides to fall out. :idc:

What world do you live in to compare punching somebody to killing an animal, kid?

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

mess

[Niamh.]

Then you're a good mother, some parents don't know wtf they are doing and don't do anything and their kids turn out horrible.

Yes some children who act up may be punished, but ones who abuse their parents and throw strops certainly aren't. If their parents are not good enough to discipline them 'peacefully' then there isn't much of a choice of what they can do to make their kid behave. I certainly think making 'smacking' illegal is ridiculous, it's not like parents would kick the **** out of their kid if they could, just need a little discipline. Legit abusive parents will hurt their children law or no law.



I don't punch hard enough to make somebody tear themselves to pieces and cause their insides to fall out. :idc:

What world do you live in to compare punching somebody to killing an animal, kid?

So it's ok for bad parents to hit their kids because they're not good enough to discipline their kids any other way? :laugh:

[T*]

I don't punch hard enough to make somebody tear themselves to pieces and cause their insides to fall out. :idc:

What world do you live in to compare punching somebody to killing an animal, kid?

Both inflict pain..
Who do you think you are calling me kid? :umm2:

[Niamh.]

Pack it in you two :nono:

[Creggle]

So it's ok for bad parents to hit their kids because they're not good enough to discipline their kids any other way? :laugh:

Sticky subject really, there is no good answer to it, but for the benefit of the child then maybe. It is speculation as I don't have a kid, if I did then maybe my opinion would be different but I can't for the life of me see how a light slap on the leg would mess a kid's life up?

[Liam-]

My Mum has raised 4 kids, 3 from one relationship and me with my Dad, the only time she has ever laid a finger on one of us was me, when i was like, 11, i said something horrible about my Dad because he was punishing me, so she slapped my leg, I was the only one of her kids that she had ever done that to and she cried for longer than i did, she was mortified and never did it again.
Me and my siblings all grew up to be, decent enough people, never had any trouble and my parents have always said, they could take us anywhere and not have to worry about any of us misbehaving.

So personally i see no correlation between kids being smacked and their behaviour :shrug:

That being said, i think parents should be able to punish their kids how they see fit, i don't mean beating them, but if a clip round the ear or the back of legs will be more effective for their child than taking away their consoles, then so be it, as long as it's not drastic or over the top.

[Crimson Dynamo]

I have never hit the small LTs and they have turned out ok


(prob should have smacked the mother tho...:idc:)

[Crimson Dynamo]

No he wasn't, he said he'd punch someone who had insulted his mother :laugh:

what if it was his kid that insulted his mother?

:umm2:

[Creggle]

Both inflict pain..
Who do you think you are calling me kid? :umm2:

There is no comparison there, being punched is nothing.
Also, you are a kid? :laugh: It was not an insult, I'm sure I have referred to you as 'kid' before and you took no offense.

Though I take offense at the comparison you made, people eh...

what if it was his kid that insulted his mother?

:umm2:

I'd shoot it :evilgrin:

[Liam-]

Lock it in the cupboard for a couple of days, sorted.

[Niamh.]

Sticky subject really, there is no good answer to it, but for the benefit of the child then maybe. It is speculation as I don't have a kid, if I did then maybe my opinion would be different but I can't for the life of me see how a light slap on the leg would mess a kid's life up?

Well i never said a slap on the leg would mess up a kids life. I just don't think resorting to physically hurting your child is ever a good way to discipline them

[Creggle]

Well i never said a slap on the leg would mess up a kids life. I just don't think resorting to physically hurting your child is ever a good way to discipline them

Honestly who knows, some people are just born arseholes and would not respond to any other form of punishment, but I think it's a subject that only actual parents can have a real say in.

My Mum has raised 4 kids, 3 from one relationship and me with my Dad, the only time she has ever laid a finger on one of us was me, when i was like, 11, i said something horrible about my Dad because he was punishing me, so she slapped my leg, I was the only one of her kids that she had ever done that to and she cried for longer than i did, she was mortified and never did it again.
Me and my siblings all grew up to be, decent enough people, never had any trouble and my parents have always said, they could take us anywhere and not have to worry about any of us misbehaving.

So personally i see no correlation between kids being smacked and their behaviour :shrug:

That being said, i think parents should be able to punish their kids how they see fit, i don't mean beating them, but if a clip round the ear or the back of legs will be more effective for their child than taking away their consoles, then so be it, as long as it's not drastic or over the top.

Exactly!! I think parents who don't smack their kids just have decent kids :idc: it's not like there is a certain age where a person graduates into a fully fledged prick!

[the truth]

I don't think it's ever okay to smack your child.

if theyre about to electrocute themselves by jumping in a bath with an electrical aplliance nearby....if theyre about to put their hands in the fire if theyre about to stab their sister with a knife....if theyre about to walk through glass etc etcetc etc

[Crimson Dynamo]

if theyre about to electrocute themselves by jumping in a bath with an electrical aplliance nearby....if theyre about to put their hands in the fire if theyre about to stab their sister with a knife....if theyre about to walk through glass etc etcetc etc

yes what about all of these instances where a warning is necessary but to then hit them..?

An adult can make a warning sufficiently serious as to make it memorable.

[Nedusa]

That's half the bloody reason this current generation were never smacked or disciplined when they were ankle biters.

Of course parents should be able to smack their children , they love their children above all else so if they smack them they probably deserved it.

It is the fault of this ridiculous PC culture where little children have rights and they must be respected.

Bollocks....... They are little brats who will learn to play on their parents love and try and get away with more and more and more, they need sometimes a short sharp shock to let them know they have to respect their parents wishes.

Not smacking them has resulted in my view immensely to this current generation of spoilt, cheeky, disrespectful kids who think they are entitled to get away with anything ....


Ps. Bring back the birch.....






.

[Samuel.]

I'm completely against it. It's not okay to smack anybody, except your own mentally and physically weak children? I've never understood that train of thought.

There are always better options than resulting to lazy and abusive smacking. It's archaic.

Can only agree tbh, look how children turn out when they don't get a slapped arse, it's never good. :idc:


But seriously you can pretty accurately tell which children are disciplined and which aren't in public, a misbehaving little brat has a PC parent.

What nonsense. You absolutely can't tell between children that have been hit and those that haven't. It's not the norm. In fact the majority of children I see playing up have aggresive, loud mouthed parents who look beyond caring about acting civil towards them.

[smudgie]

As a battered child, I always swore I would never hit my kids.
Well, that lasted until the first one reached his terrible twos.
A light tap on the hand each time he tried to put a knife into the video player soon worked.
He did not understand the word no:laugh:
I really don't understand why you would hit your child hard enough to hurt it though.

[Kizzy]

Church advocated violence? :/ I can't hand on heart say I've never hit I can count on my fingers the times I've hit mine, but I would never recommend it.

[Jamesy]

But seriously you can pretty accurately tell which children are disciplined and which aren't in public, a misbehaving little brat has a PC parent.

I've found the opposite. On the most part I've found kids that are slapped aren't at all that disciplined. In *most* cases a child that is constantly hit as a discipline grows up thinking it is right to hit someone if they do something wrong, or they grow up mentally scarred or shy.

There are different ways to parenting and just because you don't hit your child does not mean you're being 'PC'. I know loads of parents who have never layed a finger on their kids, and those kids have turned out the be the most kind, loving and friendly people I've ever seen.

-

These days you can easily bring up a child without resorting to hitting them. As long as they are taught manners, politeness, kindness, respect and gratefulness from a young age they shouldn't misbehave to the point that you need to inflict anything physical upon them. =

I find a light tap OK (although even I wouldn't do that). Anything more violent than that is just uncalled and unneeded for to be honest.

I don't have kids so maybe I'm silly to share my own opinions on this, but personally I would never hit a child and if I did I would not go to the extremes that seem common with a small minority of parents. There are very easy ways to discipline a child when they misbehave without hitting them.

[Benjamin]

I don't get the fuss with a smack across the bum? :shrug:

I got a slipper across the backside when I was a kid and I turned out fine, as did most other people.

[Benjamin]

In *most* cases a child that is constantly hit as a discipline grows up thinking it is right to hit someone if they do something wrong, or they grow up mentally scarred or shy.


You have evidence to back that up?

[Crimson Dynamo]

the problem is that most smacks are delivered because the parent has lost control

this myth that its a measured method of teaching is just that, a myth

[AnnieK]

I've found the opposite. On the most part I've found kids that are slapped aren't at all that disciplined. In *most* cases a child that is constantly hit as a discipline grows up thinking it is right to hit someone if they do something wrong, or they grow up mentally scarred or shy.

There are different ways to parenting and just because you don't hit your child does not mean you're being 'PC'. I know loads of parents who have never layed a finger on their kids, and those kids have turned out the be the most kind, loving and friendly people I've ever seen.

-

These days you can easily bring up a child without resorting to hitting them. As long as they are taught manners, politeness, kindness, respect and gratefulness from a young age they shouldn't misbehave to the point that you need to inflict anything physical upon them. =

I find a light tap OK (although even I wouldn't do that). Anything more violent than that is just uncalled and unneeded for to be honest.

I don't have kids so maybe I'm silly to share my own opinions on this, but personally I would never hit a child and if I did I would not go to the extremes that seem common with a small minority of parents. There are very easy ways to discipline a child when they misbehave without hitting them.

You don't have to have children to have an opinion. Having children doesn't give you an automatic right to talk about things like this, just as bring a parent doesn't make you all knowing. My mum told me when I had my son that there's no book on bringing up kids, it just trial and error...boy was she right. It's hard work but I don't hit....it just condones hitting and violent behaviour but I was slapped, not often and I don't bear ill will to my parents

[user104658]

Any parent who has to resort to physical discipline is weak, unintelligent and unimaginative. Most of them are also aiming to raise children who are "obedient" instead of free-thinking, but moral, individuals. The aim is to raise a child who does the right thing because they know it is right, and because they want to do the right thing. Not a child who does the "right thing" because they are scared of getting a smack.

I can tell you exactly what that leads to. It leads to a child who gets sneaky, because they will carry on doing as they please when they are out of sight and sure that they can get away with it. And, because children are like little sponges with their parents behaviour, it leads to a child who thinks they can impose their will on other children by throwing their weight around and threatening to hit.

Every single genuine "brat" I've ever encountered does not come from a family with just, fair, non-violent parenting. They come from chav families with parents who have no idea how to communicate with them. And most of them do "get smacked", right there and then in the middle of the supermarket, because their parents are too thick and embarrassed to know what else to do. It is completely ineffective.

[Kizzy]

Let's not make it a class issue, there are parents from all backgrounds that smack.

[Ninastar]

I've worked with children of all different ages for over 6/7 years now. Honestly, I don't agree with really painful, over the top smacking, but I think the odd smack on the hand/bum/leg, wherever isn't that big of a deal. I think the real issue in parenting is that parents don't realise that they can't just comment on all the bad things children do. You need to make sure you give as many positives and compliments to them as possible, as well as telling them off for the bad behaviour. If you just smack your child every time they are bad and never let them know you're proud of them for something else, then they will just grow up to be afraid of doing anything. If you give them the odd smack or whatever, but always tell them how you're happy with nice things they do, they will end up being a lot nicer and more confident.

I dont agree with abuse. Who does? But I think theres a MASSIVE difference between the odd smack and making a child cry in pain from smacking them too hard.

I've worked in all kinds of schools. Upper class, lower class, lovely schools, truly, truly horrific schools. What I can definitely say though, is that childrens behaviour now, is WAY worse than what I ever saw at school. Children (for the most part) seriously have no respect. I honestly think the main reason for that is because smacking children became illegal/a taboo/a 'SHAME ON YOU!!!!11' etc etc and parents are now so scared of telling their kids off and being seen as abusive, that they just don't bother at all now. Which, in my personal opinion is so much worse than not disciplining your child at all.

I don't believe in bad children. I believe in bad parents who have no idea what they are doing.

[Northern Monkey]

Kids don't need to be hit if they've got a scary enough dad with a deep loud voice.I was smacked very little but i knew not to feck about when dad got home.

[Niamh.]

the problem is that most smacks are delivered because the parent has lost control

this myth that its a measured method of teaching is just that, a myth

Exactly, I think if parents were able to take the time to "plan" a punishment they could surely think of something better than getting physical

[Niamh.]

Any parent who has to resort to physical discipline is weak, unintelligent and unimaginative. Most of them are also aiming to raise children who are "obedient" instead of free-thinking, but moral, individuals. The aim is to raise a child who does the right thing because they know it is right, and because they want to do the right thing. Not a child who does the "right thing" because they are scared of getting a smack.

I can tell you exactly what that leads to. It leads to a child who gets sneaky, because they will carry on doing as they please when they are out of sight and sure that they can get away with it. And, because children are like little sponges with their parents behaviour, it leads to a child who thinks they can impose their will on other children by throwing their weight around and threatening to hit.

Every single genuine "brat" I've ever encountered does not come from a family with just, fair, non-violent parenting. They come from chav families with parents who have no idea how to communicate with them. And most of them do "get smacked", right there and then in the middle of the supermarket, because their parents are too thick and embarrassed to know what else to do. It is completely ineffective.

:clap2:

[Nedusa]

Any parent who has to resort to physical discipline is weak, unintelligent and unimaginative. Most of them are also aiming to raise children who are "obedient" instead of free-thinking, but moral, individuals. The aim is to raise a child who does the right thing because they know it is right, and because they want to do the right thing. Not a child who does the "right thing" because they are scared of getting a smack.

I can tell you exactly what that leads to. It leads to a child who gets sneaky, because they will carry on doing as they please when they are out of sight and sure that they can get away with it. And, because children are like little sponges with their parents behaviour, it leads to a child who thinks they can impose their will on other children by throwing their weight around and threatening to hit.

Every single genuine "brat" I've ever encountered does not come from a family with just, fair, non-violent parenting. They come from chav families with parents who have no idea how to communicate with them. And most of them do "get smacked", right there and then in the middle of the supermarket, because their parents are too thick and embarrassed to know what else to do. It is completely ineffective.

Lovely sentiments expressed in this post and I want to believe this is true and no one should ever smack their children.

But the reality is children NEED discipline and a short sharp shock can administer that discipline effectively, trying to reason with very young children is pointless, trying to make a deal with them or bribe them or threaten them is all pointless.

They must understand you are the boss and they should respect you. So a light smack in my view is acceptable and permissable and will not lead to deranged psychotic juveniles.

Children have been smacked by their parents for generations, how else do they learn respect and the diff between right and wrong. How else are they going to learn that when Mummy or Daddy says stop he/she means stop.

All this recent namby pamby don't hit your child because it's assault is complete and utter bollocks and has in part resulted in the current generation of misguided, spolit, diserespectful lazy, good for nothing, idle layabouts who think they have a right to everything without having to put in any effort.

They think they have a right to give a torrent of foul mouth abuse to an adult who chastises them for some minor transgression.

There does not seem to be the same respect for adults by children/youths these days and I wonder if the present situation has come about due to the lack of parental punishment in their childrens early years.






.

[user104658]

Lovely sentiments expressed in this post and I want to believe this is true and no one should ever smack their children.

But the reality is children NEED discipline and a short sharp shock can administer that discipline effectively, trying to reason with very young children is pointless, trying to make a deal with them or bribe them or threaten them is all pointless.

They must understand you are the boss and they should respect you. So a light smack in my view is acceptable and permissable and will not lead to deranged psychotic juveniles.

Children have been smacked by their parents for generations, how else do they learn respect and the diff between right and wrong. How else are they going to learn that when Mummy or Daddy says stop he/she means stop.

All this recent namby pamby don't hit your child because it's assault is complete and utter bollocks and has in part resulted in the current generation of misguided, spolit, diserespectful lazy, good for nothing, idle layabouts who think they have a right to everything without having to put in any effort.

They think they have a right to give a torrent of foul mouth abuse to an adult who chastises them for some minor transgression.

There does not seem to be the same respect for adults by children/youths these days and I wonder if the present situation has come about due to the lack of parental punishment in their childrens early years.






.

The thing is, though, I have children... And they have never been smacked. So I don't "think" that it's possible for them to learn right from wrong without smacking, I KNOW that it is possible.

Something else to consider: my youngest daughter (aged 2 and a half) is on the autistic spectrum. She has many difficulties with language and communication and there are huge additional hurdles over a "normal" child. Three important points:

- she has very few words and doesn't understand many more.

- she is likely to get herself into risky situations (for herself and others) MORE than the average toddler.

- hitting an autistic child is *completely* inappropriate, even if you do think that in general a smack is "OK". She would for one, go completely nuclear and become very distressed and confused and, secondly, would be highly likely to regress / temporarily lose the words she does have / lose her ability to make eye contact and engage. This is a disaster for an autistic child.


Now... Here's the strange thing. She knows that "stop means stop". Two of the phrases she does understand and respond to, are "not to do that" and "not to touch that". You say "how else are they going to learn" and yet... Tadaaa... A 2.5 year old with learning difficulties HAS learned. Is it just us? Are we some sort of magical super parents with abilities that other parents don't have? I'd love to make that claim but somehow I don't think it's true.

I'd also point out that I have a 5 year old who is "normal", has also never been hit, and achieving all of the above was much easier. So it's not a case of it being different for "abnormal" kids.

I stand by my original claim that rude / disrespectful kids come from rude / disrespectful, chavvy, broken homes with broken parents. Most of whom think smacking is fine. Children learn respect by being immersed in a respectful environment. Physically striking someone for any reason, is not respectful.

Another anecdote: my daughter only has one friend at school who has ever hit her. She hits her, and her other classmates, constantly to try to get her own way. She is also very bossy and rude to other parents, including myself. I know her mother. I know that her mother smacks. Just sayin'. It's not teaching anything good.

[Niamh.]

Yep, totally agree with you in all you've posted there TS. I have 2 kids as well aged 10 and 14 now, neither were smacked when they were younger or now, both of them are very respectful, infact every parent teacher meeting I've ever been to both their teachers have always commented on how polite and well behaved my kids are. I'm a firm believer in kids learning by example so hitting them imo is teaching them that hitting people is ok....that's just logical imo

[Livia]

I think smacking stupid people should be allowed. Compulsory, in fact.

[CaudleHalbard]

I think smacking stupid people should be allowed. Compulsory, in fact.
Totally agree! [emoji12]

[Vicky.]

Not too sure where I stand on this...having pretty much brought up one of gavs sons who literally did not listen to anything or no punishment seemed to work.

We tried everything we could think of, from letting him explain his views/feelings completely then attempting to sort out whatever his problem was(softly softly approach...), to taking away his toys for set amounts of time, to grounding him, to early bedtimes, to firm verbal retribution...nothing worked. Eventually our GP suggested a smack every now and again, not enough to hurt properly, but enough to shock.

There was never a problem with his brother and sister. A firm voice was always enough. They have never been smacked. But he had to be. It was the only thing that ever made him listen :shrug:

Those who are against smacking in all situations...what should have been done with him? Allow him to continue doing what he wants all the time?

[the truth]

smacking is a last resort but an essential one in emergency situations

[Niamh.]

Not too sure where I stand on this...having pretty much brought up one of gavs sons who literally did not listen to anything or no punishment seemed to work.

We tried everything we could think of, from letting him explain his views/feelings completely then attempting to sort out whatever his problem was(softly softly approach...), to taking away his toys for set amounts of time, to grounding him, to early bedtimes, to firm verbal retribution...nothing worked. Eventually our GP suggested a smack every now and again, not enough to hurt properly, but enough to shock.

There was never a problem with his brother and sister. A firm voice was always enough. They have never been smacked. But he had to be. It was the only thing that ever made him listen :shrug:

Those who are against smacking in all situations...what should have been done with him? Allow him to continue doing what he wants all the time?

wow a doctor advised that? I'm pretty shocked to hear that tbh.

[Vicky.]

wow a doctor advised that? I'm pretty shocked to hear that tbh.

Yup..it worked too. A couple of smacks along the line (taps is more like it tbh, but it did shock him) and now that he is 8 usually all it takes is a stern no and he listens.

People will judge because of this, but he was literally horrid. He would be constantly hitting/biting/hurting his brother and sister. Now he doesn't lay a finger on them (besides play fighting and such)

[Niamh.]

Yup..it worked too. A couple of smacks along the line (taps is more like it tbh, but it did shock him) and now that he is 8 usually all it takes is a stern no and he listens.

mmm I'm just not a fan of it, it doesn't sit right with me. In regards to your question from the last post though, eh I don't think I can really answer it without having been in that situation ever

[Nedusa]

I think ultimately a parent has the right to decide whether to discipline their child and what form that discipline should take.

Obviously there is a line over which smacking becomes abuse but only a very very small minority of parents would do that, and clearly they should not have children.

In general though the law must leave parents alone to decide these things otherwise we become a heavy handed fascist police state with everyone spying on everyone else.




.

[Kizzy]

I agree, children are strange little things... my sisters daughter was very cute but a really obstinate, difficult and willful child compared to mine, I felt so sorry for her as she literally ran rings around her and every day was a battle from what socks she wore in the morning to how long she read for in bed at night.
She wasn't mine but I used to want to slap her sometimes :laugh:

[jennyjuniper]

I grew up in a time where corporal punishment in school was legal. I was caned a few times and while it hurt at the time, I very quickly learned not to do what I had been doing to get caned in the first place.
The police at that time would give a clip round the ear and send you on your way with a warning to tell your parents if they caught you doing wrong again.
It was worse in my mothers childhood, because then schools didn't cane girls, but if a girl misbehaved, they caned that girls brothers instead (The girl usually got a punch from her brothers anyway)
I don't know if it's right or not to slap children. All I can say is it didn't do me any lasting damage.

[the truth]

I got spanked regularly by a 19 year old girl....I have no complaints

[smudgie]

wow a doctor advised that? I'm pretty shocked to hear that tbh.

:laugh: when my son was little, my doctor advised a clip around the ear for him.
He was treating me for a sore throat at the time, he used to say he knew when the school holidays were b the amount of mothers who were sufferng with their nodules.

[user104658]

.
It was worse in my mothers childhood, because then schools didn't cane girls, but if a girl misbehaved, they caned that girls brothers instead (The girl usually got a punch from her brothers anyway)

What the... That is some seriously messed up **** right there!

[user104658]

All I can say to the rest of it, is that there are ALWAYS reasons for a child being aggressive or acting up. Always. Just because they're not obvious or because no one can be bothered to properly figure out what the issue is, doesn't mean there isn't one.

Shouting, threatening, coercing, bribing, blackmailing - none of these are appropriate "smacking substitutes". They're just more examples of lazy parenting. You absolutely CAN reason with a child of 4+ and reach a mutual understanding, if you take the time to properly know them and understand them. The key word is MUTUAL understanding and respect. Not imposing your will on a child and having them be obedient. An understood and respected child will be understanding and respectful. Most parents are just "too busy" (or too lazy, or too stupid) to bother and go with the easy options like shouting, screaming, blackmailing, threatening and hitting.

[Marsh.]

I got spanked regularly by a 19 year old girl....I have no complaints

I hope you smacked her back the man hating *****.

[user104658]

I hope you smacked her back the man hating *****.
:hehe:

[the truth]

I hope you smacked her back the man hating *****.

ive had to report you there marsh for condoning hitting women and making light of it, shameful:nono:

[Marsh.]

ive had to report you there marsh for condoning hitting women and making light of it, shameful:nono:

:joker: :joker: :joker: