[ Poll ] Spanking children

[Shaft]

What are your opinions on parents who use spanking as a way to punish their children?

I have read reports of how spanking can destroy children's self confidence and self esteem but I was spanked during my childhood and I think I'm better because of it.

Discuss:
Have you ever been spanked?
did you deserve it?
The difference between punishment and abuse.
If you have ever been spanked, how has it affected your life?

I have. And so have my brothers.

Yes, we deserved it.

There's a difference between a disciplining spanking, and abuse.

I don't see spanking your child for ever punishment, but for certain things, yes.

I don't see how it could ruin a child's self confidence and self esteem personally...

Quite honestly, I know that I'm mature and responsible now, and my parent's discipline did help.

[Gibbs505]

Like all forms of disicpline, use when apporite! But never to excess!

[ken]

My parents spanked me. Sometimes I spank my wife but that is a different story.

[WatUpDawg]

Like all forms of discipline, use when appropriate! But never to excess!

QFT with spelling corrections

[Gibbs505]

So I can't spell, so what?

[Shaft]

Like all forms of disicpline, use when apporite! But never to excess!

Exactly, and we must teach and guide them the difference between punishing(disciplining) and abuse

[Shaft]

My parents spanked me. Sometimes I spank my wife but that is a different story.

[Roaddog31]

Have you ever been spanked? A number of times
did you deserve it? Shoot yeah, I was mean as a kid
The difference between punishment and abuse. Of course, one thing that I would have to say was when I was spanked my dad always came to me after I calmed down and explained why he did it and always told me he loved me. I never got the impression that he hated me, I was getting it b/c of something I did wrong or outside the rules, and never too hard.
If you have ever been spanked, how has it affected your life? Taught me to respect my parents more and made me listen and made me know that there are consequences in life. Love them for it and will always be grateful.

[steely]

I was spanked and it was a little over board I think. The abuse to my self esteem came from belittling remarks from parents and authority figures. Calling a child an idiot for mistakes made is counterproductive.
I had two kids and spanked at first but found I got further with other forms of correction.

[ken]

Shaft's poll was very timely

[ibsmitty]

I was spanked as a child, and I can most assuredly say that I am a much better person for that discipline. I think the largest problem with the spanking debate is how the issue is framed. Spanking should be about consequences for actions. Too often, spanking takes place because the parents "had it" or "couldn't take any more" and then disciplined the children in anger instead of a calm delivery of predetermined consequences for actions. I believe that any punishment meted out in anger is abuse.

[DZNUTS3113]

spanking children with cause should be ok - spanking children for every little thing is just overboard!

[Ampatent]

Personally I don't think spanking is necessary to properly punish a child. If you are capable in your reasoning and logic, the child should understand without needing to be spanked.

All spanking serves to do is make the child afraid of doing whatever it is that they did to deserve the spanking. If you explain to them why they were wrong in their actions, then they will actually understand why they shouldn't do something.

[Enox]

Personally I don't think spanking is necessary to properly punish a child. If you are capable in your reasoning and logic, the child should understand without needing to be spanked.

All spanking serves to do is make the child afraid of doing whatever it is that they did to deserve the spanking. If you explain to them why they were wrong in their actions, then they will actually understand why they shouldn't do something.

It would be so great if all children behaved like that. Just sat and listened and learned from their mistakes, but they don't.

A lot of kids just tend to ignore you, or just tell you what you want to hear. Then they go off and just do it all over again cause they know there is no consequences. As long as you can control it and don't actually beat the child in a bad way, then I think its ok.

[virgilcane]

If you need physical force to keep your child in line I think there is some other problems at hand.