Is smacking a child acceptable?

Is smacking a child acceptable?

"I was smacked as a kid, never did me any harm". But is this really true? Hitting an adult is seen as violence or abuse, but is this different with children? Should we smack our kids? Were you smacked as a child? Do you smack your own children? Should it be made illegal?

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Your comments

 
  1.  
    Karl from Swansea says:
    Jan 27, 15:54

    If I was naughty as a child, id get a smack on the bum. So would most of my friends too! Im now a graduate with a stable mind and my friend is a Cambridge PhD student, im sure a smack stops you doing something naughty again cos i wouldnt risk another backhander off my mother. If she locked me in my room or sent me to bed without supper, i think thats a poor punishment and it would have never stopped me. Im all up for smacks as long as they are for bad behaviour and not for something small and insignificant. Good behaviour should be rewarded and bad behaviour punished.. it was the way in my family and im all the better for it.

    Is smacking acceptable?
    Depends on circumstances
  2.  
    sarah from lancashire says:
    Jan 26, 14:32

    I think that those people without children, who were smacked as children would believe that one could smack a child. I personally have no children yet, however I think that I would smack my child on the hand or bottom, as it's the SHOCK of being hit that stops them hitting back. Smacking on the bottom doesnt hurt the child as such, but the shock of getting the hit is enough to make them see that they were naughty. Also the shame of the naughtiness would make sure the children wouldnt tell their friends. However I also agree that some parents are able to set boundaries from a young age and never have to resort to a small smack, and I take my hat off to these parents, as doing this is a difficult task. I think that, maybe if parents punished their children a bit harsher, there would be less teenage pregnancies, less knife crime and teachers/parents would get more respect in schools and at home. But I do not think smacking should be a regular occurance, it should only happen when the chid has stepped WAY over the line, by hitting a friend, or something equally as bad...

    Is smacking acceptable?
    Depends on circumstances
  3.  
    Anthony from Accrington,Lancs says:
    Jan 26, 11:58

    Ok dogooder Lucy you try alternative methods with a stroppy strapping kid who refuses to do as you say and pull their weight when asked;groundings fine BUT you cannot lock them in their bedroom because it will abuse their "humanrights", because the kids have more rights than the parents do THE POLICE ARREST THE PARENTS!!!

    Is smacking acceptable?
    Yes
  4.  
    lucy from leicester says:
    Jan 24, 21:46

    i would never smack my child, i would never bring myself to it and i dont think anyone else should, there are far more fairer strategies when it comes to behaviour modification that are far more acceptable than hitting your child..plus smacking just reinforces that hitting people is acceptable to your child. i could and would never hurt my child.

    Is smacking acceptable?
    No
  5.  
    sarky from midlands says:
    Jan 23, 07:09

    smacking your kids is ok as a last resort when nothing else works, and up to a certain age. this has also to be backed up by being a good role model and giving the child love too. i have found that i have not smacked my kids for years because they know one thing. where the boundaries lie and what they can or cannot do. i do not change the boundaries one bit and it has worked for me and my wife, because now we have three adolescent kids who are brilliant. you get only get out what you put in.

    Is smacking acceptable?
    Yes

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Comments page 1 of 1,126

Your vote: the results

Is smacking acceptable?

Yes
52%
52%
No
31%
31%
Depends on circumstances
9%
9%
If it's your own child
7%
7%
Undecided
2%
2%

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