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Should smacking be banned?
Recent movements within the government indicate that smacking might soon be outlawed. iVillagers' give their views on whether smacking is an acceptable disciplinary method or not
Against the smacking ban
Being a parent is a tough enough job - the last thing we need is someone telling us how we can and cannot punish our children. Being smacked does not damage children, it is a momentary sensation that is gone as quickly as it happens, but it does serve a valuable purpose, if your kids respond to it. I, like most parents, know the difference between smacking and beating a child, and the two are very different.
stephiefilby
Smacking never did me any harm. When I was a child the threat of a smack from my father was usually enough to stop me from misbehaving, but I very rarely actually got one. I believe that a child should have some form of discipline, and if that means either threatening, or actually smacking a child, then so be it. I have found that if I try to reason with my kids when they misbehave, they just laugh. But if I threaten to smack them, they behave, so smacking does work for us.
charminbear
Smacking is a punishment for some wrongdoing and a reminder not to do it again. When I was at school, corporal punishment was still perfectly acceptable, and children behaved better. If an adult told them not to do something, they didn't shout back and do it anyway, because they knew the teacher could take physical action against them.
mossstitch
I was smacked as a child, I've also been beaten, so I know the difference; a smack on the legs is a punishment, a smack on the face is abusive. I can remember being smacked as a child and knowing it was justified. I also remember the times when it wasn't justified and, on those occasions, it was disrespectful, humiliating and wrong. Even as a child I could tell the difference between the two.
jehefinner
The people who beat and otherwise abuse their children know it is 'wrong', and I don't think enshrining it more explicitly in law will make a difference to these people. These things will still occur behind closed doors and we will know nothing about it. What's the point of implementing a new law that will make no difference?
pureinnocentsunshine
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Created: 11/12/2003 Updated: 06/07/2004
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