==

“If your child needs to be spanked, then you have failed as a parent. And what lesson is taught by hitting a kid for your own failures?”

I somewhat agree with that. Although, as Jeff mentioned, not all kids behave the same way, and not all will act to discipline in the same manner. Also, not all children will respond to spanking in the same way. So long as a kid isn’t being spanked on a monthly [or more often] basis, it really doesn’t seem that excessive. Obviously no lasting physical damage should be inflicted, or it’s clearly abuse.

It’s good to hear personally from 3 parents who have had success disciplining children without spanking. Obviously, there are many parents you can encounter any day in public who have failed to replace spanking with any other form of effective discipline, and in no way BE (or assert) authority for their children.

i imagine that our views on respect and obedience are fairly similiar.

we lead by example and we’re consistent in our approach to discipline. we offer our kids choice.

we let them choose which pajamas to wear to bed. we choose the bedtime. pretty simple.

when trouble comes, and with 3 to 6 yr olds it’s often, no means no.

temper tantrums are expected but not tolerated. i have found that the best way to handle a disobedient kid is to remove him/her from the situation.

if my youngest, only 3, starts to scream, i pick him up and remove him from the situation. i then leave him to finish the freak out on his own. they soon realize that the behaviour doesn’t get good results.

kids lose control. our job is to help them learn control.with respect, i don’t believe that by losing control ourselves we’re setting the right example.

Section 43 is regularly used by abusers as a legal defence when they have been charged. No average parent has ever been charged under this.

http://www.repeal43.org/index.html

Go to this site and explore some of the links, you’ll be horrified at what some judges have ruled is legal.

The Senate is finally doing what is right. No one needs to hit a child to raise them. I have three boys now, two have LD/behavioural issues, and hitting them does not work. Raising them to know that mom is in charge and we use our words when we have an issue.

The most effective way to assert that you are in charge is not to ‘assert’ it at all, but to simply be in charge as a fact of nature. Be a reasonable and attentive authority figure whose attention your child needs. Reward kids for good acts and ignore the bad wherever possible.

Do that and you’ll see there’s no need to resort to violence.

I’ve taught in elementary school and I’m helping to raise a 6 year old girl. I would never dream of hitting a child.

While I don’t think this should be legislated, I think there should be strong moral pressure on parents not to spank their kids. It’s not ok.

If your child needs to be spanked, then you have failed as a parent. And what lesson is taught by hitting a kid for your own failures?

How do you assert that you are in charge, and they will have consequences if they intentionally act out in damaging ways?

Also, I see a distinct line between a parent who is assaulting/beating their children, and one who uses a swat on the behind for a kid who has been reasoned with and told to stop something, and yet refuses to obey at their own and others’ peril.