Spanking your kids

I will say spanking is necessary for parenting, especially for adolescents. My parents raised me in a very strict household so I can explain from experience when spanking is absolutely needed and when spanking can be abusive.

Spanking is not always the answer to a child's misbehavior. Smacking in its essential form is to bring a sense of seriousness to the situation. It is a very quick and efficient way to have the child stop, and to show the parent's authority. When young, children don't know what's best, esp in terms of safety. In particular not every child understands a grave situation, but every child knows the feeling of pain. So administering pain is the fastest way to communicate to the child when to stop. Although having a discussion is an alternative, spanking when done properly is the most efficient way to teach behavior.

There's the misconception that introducing violence during adolescence breeds future violent behavior. This is untrue, if the disciplining is administered properly. As noted in the radio program, spanking a child consistently and clearly informing the reasons is the proper way to punish a child. As long as the parent consistently chastises the child for similar misbehaviors, the child will learn. As long as the child knows that his punishment is due to his misbehavior, he will have an incentive to stop. Hitting a child out of frustration is abuse. The punishment must be fair and just.

That is to not to say that child will completely learn if he is only spanked. Physically punishment works in a way to stop a child from doing an act. A child will not learn until he sees a role model to emulate in terms of respect, poise, and behavior.

Socially, it is obvious to those spanked as a child of those who were not spanked.I will say that I notice those who“got it off easy” have a more level relationship with their parents. Whereas those children who were spanked were at a more hierarchal relationship. The differences stand out even more. Those who were not spanked are more likely to be unaware of some social cues, blind from not being spanked from their parents. Those who were spanked were conditioned to be careful of potential social taboos.

With all that said, it would be outrageous to outlaw “spanking” or “smacking”. This is an essential form of parenting that is practiced all around the world. In fact, physically disciplining a juvenile family member is part of the culture for some. Thus an outright ban, is an a oblivious attempt to blanket out a foundation of parenting.