Parenting through corporal punishment

Is it right for a parent to hit his/her child when the child has done something wrong?

Is it a good method? Is it needed, or are there better ways of parenting which does not include physical punishment?

depends on the degree of hitting and whether it classes as abuse. I mean I always got a slap on the back of the legs for being really naughty and i always got warnings before i did get a slap.

As far as i'm concerned it's a last resort because sometimes you just can't reason with children, as long as it doesnt do any damage them or verge on abuse and is occasional and used only as a last resort i think it'd fine for young children but as soon as you can use alternative methods such as reasoning or grounding or something like that it's not necessary.

I also think it's got an appropriate time and place for example a 3 year old is playing in the kitchen, you ask them to go play in the living room because your cooking. they won't so you ask them again and they still don't. You remove them from the kitchen but they come back in and almost knock something off the stove. Then a slap on the back of the legs is fine you warned them and it's a last resort and they know that they shouldn't play in the kitchen.

Before you say child guards, I climbed over child guards from the age of 1 and a half, and at one point climbed over then fell down the stairs.

I dont have a problem with the occasional smack or slap. I think there is a line and you have to be careful.

I used to get a smack on my bum if I was really naughty, and like angelcake said, I had warnings beforehand. I think children need boundries and i think smacking gives you that.

It never did me any harm

Yep same here, i was smacked as a kid but there was always either a warning or the count to 3.


Kids are hard work

Yes they are. And i think people underestimate it.

my gf has 2 and she never hits them

she has resorted to the occasional sting on the hand or head if their really playing up.


I see nothing wrong in smacking, my mum used to grab mine and my sisters hair and bash are heads together

Spanking frequently is necessary as long as it doesn't go into abuse.

hmmmmmm depends on the kid, some kids dont respond at all to corporal punishment, you have to use psychological stuff.

Im not against smacking a child as long as it doesn't leave a mark and as long as the child is too young to reason.

By thrashing a child you are only teaching it that conflict is resolved by violence.

A quick sharp shock is really what it's about. I smack the backs of hands even now and mine are 13, 11 and 8.
They know they have had to be really bad before I'll resort to that though.

No, no. Hitting is not permitted. I've definitely not enjoyed abuse and it's only taught me to hate my father. You wouldn't want your child(ren) to grow to hate you, would you? It's definitely not a good method. It's not needed and there are better ways of punishment which do not include physical punishment. Well...that's about as far as I can get you because I've never been exposed to any other way. But, I know they are out there in the world being exercised...somewhere. And they're highly successful! I do know that not all children will understand and follow one method. You'll have to try different things and not just give up after one try. But, most definitely do not harm your child in such a way. ...Yeah...that probably didn't help...

I don't disagree with a short sharp slap now and again but i do prefer to punish my children in other ways like grounding,removal of playstation no sweets/magazines etc.However i have also been known to slap bottom/legs if they push too far.I always give my children a warning first.My eldest child is coming up 13 and he has been smacked about four times in his life.I and my brother &sisters were smacked as children and it never done any of us any harm.I have known people that really smack there children for very trivial things and often smack to hard or in places like the head ,to me hitting across the head is a big no no !!!,i suppose it's each to there own

If mine done something that was totally out of order then yes they do get a smack but not the type to leave marks.

But before they do they have umpteen warnings.

If not then its up to there bedrooms.

open hand, light smack on fleshy part (bottom) = acceptable
using impliments, across the face, closed fist = NEVER acceptable

i have to say i agree, it should only ever be a open handed slap on the backs on the legs or bottom.

I think smacking is fine. I mean looking back, when my parents shouted at me I didn't mind and it wouldnt make me stop what I was doing, but when they even threatened a smack I would stop instantly.