Should you spank your children?

My parents spanked me. That's what happens when you got African parents. I turned out fine. However, if I ever become a parent I wouldn't spank my children or probably do it as a last resort.

Mainly it's more of shock value, and not necessarily to inflict pain. Honestly it is a tactic of last resort and should be used sparingly.

I don't think so. Nowadays you can take something away from them, usually tech and just use that as a punishment or incentive. Maybe as a last resort but not enough to hurt them so much.

Yes, this is true. In time, my children will be so strong willed that they will promptly ignore and walk away from an attempt to spank them; or at least I that's what I hope.

A spanking on the bottom done out of instilling some discipline is okay.

I don't see myself doing it to a kid, but if some other parent wants to do it to their own kid then I'm indifferent.

There's a difference between a spanking on the bottom (for mainly shock value, as Cyberninja mentioned) and striking your child or actually hurting them, which is not okay and child abuse.

No, you get a thick leather belt and whip them real good. Hispanic style.

Agree with this. (except my parents were Hispanic/Italian.)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/tarahaelle/2016/04/28/spanking-harms-kids-doesnt-work-and-leads-to-long-term-problems/#3c0806ca5fa9

That is if you feel it to be necessary.

Not according to science.

Then again my parents spanked me and I turned out.....alright ;)

Glad to see logical comments not influenced by bs PC.

Spanking is fine. Just don't go overboard.

I believe non-physical punishment is the most effective way to discipline children. Spanking does more harm than good IMO. But if other parents are willing to spank their children, then I'm ok with it as long as they don't abuse it.

no

Lol my parents are spanish and my dad used the belt in me, one time he used the metal end. But it's ok now hes out of the house

Yes. If you do it right there is no true harm and has a positive affect on the kids. Despite what contrary studies try to say not all kids are the same. Non-physical punishment does NOT work on all kids. It's simply naive to think so.

Shock collars are more effective.

Whenever my mom spanked me I'd just laugh... So she'd spank me harder lol.

You really want to punish a kid you take his video games.

I don't think beating children is necessary my parents are jamaican they got lots of beatings but they don't beat me.

I guess I would never spank my children. I don't think inflicting pain or fear is a solution for anything.

As far as I remember, I was never spanked by my parents. Instead, I used to be grounded, I had to think and then talk with them about what I did and why it was wrong. That seems to be a reasonable and effective approach, IMO.

There has been plenty of evidence that spanking children does a lot of harm. Outside of that, just because you are someone's parent does not give you the right to physically assault them. Which is what spanking is. There are enough other ways to appropriately punish kids.

My mum once took away my Pc, xbox and ALL games for it when she caught me sneaking out at night. Worst punishment she ever gave me.

No... There's nothing beneficial to come from it. My mom spanked me and I turned out terrible

This but mostly as a last resort.

My mom put soap in my mouth when I cussed. My dad whipped me with his belt when I acted out. I stopped cussing and acting out.

@black_wreath: Agreed. Parents should consider using those.

I come from a cultural background, where parents would "NON-LIFE-THREATINGLY" spank, belt-whip, smack your rear with a wooden spoon, sandle-smack(huarache), and force you to kneel in a worship posture for a small duration of time.

I went through this as a kid, as well as many of my friends and family. Some of us grew up to be police officers and doctors.

I agree; spare the rod and spoil the child; and, than couple this with grounding (e.g. removing access to all tech devices, television, and recreational activities, depending on whether it's a repeat offense; make them do both home work and make them get ahead of the rest of the class, where I'd give a pop quiz); this is what my guardian did to me and it was very effective; the length of the grounding stretches out, with each new offense, obviously, and may include more than one bout with the belt, separated by days (e.g. if my child believed more than one woopings were coming, I'd play mind games where they didn't know the time of day the next strap was coming, and, sometimes, I'd just let the child slide).

I would use more effective means of punishment.

Hitting a kid doesn't work when they are older children either, because once they can hit back, many will. Myself included.

Knives are far more effective. A scar for every sin.

No, it traumatizes the kid. Only as a last resort and ONLY as a last resort

Spanking to some extent is ok, but where is the line drawn between the occasional spank and child abuse? Some parents take "spanking" too far without realizing that they are becoming physically abusive.

I mean, if they're into that...

It seems like lazy parenting.

@bio_guyver: I know that position that was one of punishment used get

Yes.

Being spanked as a kid myself, I would probably be naturally inclined to spank my kids when I get them, but I would try my best not to.

It's opinionated, but I'm just against abuse. It's bad.

P.S: To me there's a fine line between spanking and abuse.

Spanking disinclines kids from doing behaviors around parents because they don't want the punishment. It doesn't actually teach them that behaviors are wrong just that they shouldn't get caught doing them.

A spank works like a disciplinary measure. It helps making the child to understand what is allowed and what is not, and start developing a sense of legality and don't become a ruthless and careless boy

It's not by any means excessive violence or something that will let kids traumatized (As long as it's used properly of course).

My parents, grandparents and uncles were given hardcore, old-school "spanks" or rather beatings. You wouldn't believe the stories and what would be looked at as straight up cruelty today I guess. But they all came out alright for the most part. For, example my grandparents' parents would beat them with a horseshoe. Or with a tv antenna. Such was life. In comparison, my little brothers were never really spanked. I only got the belt, chancla and hand a few times.

I personally wouldn't see myself ever going beyond the use of the hand as a last resort. But I guess every one has their own opinions on this. Stuff that was commonplace back then wouldn't slide today. Different times.

Parents that have to hit their children to get what they want aren't good parents.

Yup, you should. You don't have to do it every single time but once or twice to instill the fear of being spanked into them so they know that when you threaten to do it, they know you're serious. Putting them in corners, sending them to their rooms, verbal punishments and stuff just aren't cutting it. It's why this current generation is so much worse than the previous generation.

Why though? There are far more effective ways of punishing a child than striking them. Like taking away toys or video games, denying sweets and forcing them to do extra chores/work. Spanking has the potential to do more harm than good, and tbh just seems like a way for a parent to take out anger on their child when you consider that there are far better options.

Yes, but only to remind them that I have authority over them. Wouldn't hit em' hard, just want to show them that I won't take their crap.

I used to get spanked. I say just don't go over the top, you know?

Yes, i got that as a child. Well technically im still a child. But anyway its good it teaches them Authority and Respect.

Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

My parents went a bit overboard with it at times, so I pretty much vowed I'd never do it to a kid of mine.