do you think spanking or hitting your children teaches them right from wrong? do you think its wrong or do you think its right? wut would you do to your kids to disiplin (sp) them?

wasn;t there a topic like this about how teachers beat up kids? owell...

I'd spank a kid if he/she did something really horrible at a young age...but i won't do it as a daily routine

It solves a lot of things. There's a difference between simple disciplinary action by spanking and simply beating and tormenting your child. I'd like to personally give my belt to parents with children who misbehave in public. My parents did it that way, and I turned out fine.

word, my parents did the same thing. i still have nightmares about belts attacking me >.<

i agree spankin solves things, i just don't think i'd ever resort to using a belt or any other object other than my hand, i just wouldn't have it in my heart to hurt my kid like that.

i think spanking is an outdated form of discipline. It just simply dosn't work anymore (or at least it never worked fro my parents or anyone else's that i know)

I don't think spanking is right. I would never spank my kid, only because my parents never spanked me. I (think) I turned out fine.

i think spanking is good. i was spanked as a child. i would do something wrong repeatedly, and after being spanked, i wouldnt do it anymore.
spanking is not the same thing as beating.

Just like the Boondocks, eh?

In any case, I would prefer reasoning with my child. However, that may not work in every case. So, I can understand when spanking may need to be applied.

However, I don't think it helps to build a respectable, honest, and honorable adult. I think it is much more important that a child understands, from reason, why they should not do specific things rather than behavior based from a fear of punishment or a hope for reward. It may seem a bit idealistic, but I think it is important.

Often, when a child is spanked they don't exactly understand the implications of what they have done aside from the punishment they are recieving for it. It seems barbaric at times and rather desperate. However, I do understand that in certain cases it may be called for. Eitherway, I think the child should be treated with respect and the adult should try to appeal to the child's reason before resorting to physical punishment. Even if physical punishment is applied, it's important that it is accompanied with an appeal to reason.

"Rewards and punishment is the lowest form of education."
- - - Chuang Tzu

What planet do you live on?

Note that I said I knew it was a bit idealistic. Heh heh.

I agree with Nate. Spanking your child is treating them like a dog. Give them a little more credit than that. They must have had a reason, or motive, for doing the thing you're punishing them for. If all you do is spank them for being bad and give them candy for being good, that's all they'll know. It's better for them to know why something they did was bad, or not acceptable, rather than to know that it got them a spanking. They're going to get frustrated if they don't know why. It will seem unreasonable, even though most children don't understand the concept of reason, it's not going to make sense to them. It will only get them mad and crying.

In a perfect world, that would work out fine and both parties would win. The parent would feel a sense of accomplishment for enlightening their child and the child can learn to control his/her behavior.

However, reason with an out-of-control screamer in aisle 6 of Wal-Mart and see what happens... nothing. The bastard just keeps screaming. Time out? Fat chance. The little bastard will kick and scream even more. But take off that belt and the child will submit.

Children are not merely "little people". You can attempt to explain to them why they did something wrong, and why it is bad, but you probably won't get very far--children lack the capacity for reasoning, logic, and analysis of behaviors.

^EXACTLY

^I second that!

I think it all the depends on the child. In most cases, spankin works...to me...my mom hit me alot when I was little, and I turn out fine, everytime I'm about to do something stupid, i thought about mom, she's kinda like my concience...
Spanking kinda helps a child grow up in the real world more...often, I never see them bring a gun to school, or have suicidal thoughts...
children that have an easy life, facing the real world can be tough for them.

But if the parent abuses the child...she might grow up going pretty crazy..like one of my best friends.

we're not talking about beating.

spanking is definitely not the same thing as beating a child. taking out a belt and whipping a kid is horrible! but i think you were joking..sort of.

^ Same here, and I was never hit. I don't think hitting your child is a direct cause of "good".

Technically, you should never physically hurt your kids at all. So does it help, no.

Uh...says who? Not that I support spanking (I am neutral on the issue), but from where does that guideline come?

Under operant conditioning, spanking a child is more effective than giving them a verbal warning. If the causual action was a serious thing that needs to be immediately corrected, a spanking would be due, not out of punishment sake, but to instill to the child that what they did is wrong and shouldn't be done again. In the end, as long as you don't spank in anger but in the hopes that the child will remember that punishment will follow their action is suffice.

I wasn't joking. And being disciplined with a belt isn't "beating" your child. Reread what I said because I was dead serious.

Spanking DOES solve problems. It helps kids who are not yet capable of listening to reason understand when they are doing something wrong and remember not to do it again.

Of course, it shouldn't be done all the time for every single offense. Spanking should only be enforced when a child does something VERY wrong or when all other forms of discipline like yelling or time-outs are not effective.

Psychology already states that spanking is effective. This is no debate. ;O