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So, pro-spanking parents aren’t Nazis? : Comments
By Ben-Peter Terpstra, published 13/4/2011The evidence supports corporal punishment as a viable and valuable method of discipline.
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Example: 2yr old breaks free in public carpark and dashes towards reversing vehicle. Parent yells "STOP" as they bolt after child, child keeps going. Parent catches child, gives him a couple good slaps on tail, says "You must stop when I say. Now hold my hand and don't run away again". That message "If I run from Mum when she says stop it's gonna hurt" will likely stay in that childs head longer than the 5 minute explanation about how the naughty old car could have squashed you .....
As children gain comprehension and life experience they understand cause and effect at a more sophisticated level so then it's appropriate to discuss and set more complicated less immediate penalties.
Like all correction the child needs to understand punishment is a consequence of the bad behaviour and that subsequent lapses will result in some form of unpleasantness. While some children are easier to rear and need far less discipline than others, consistency is king and punishment must fit the crime.
Both my and my partners parents were far more likely to mete out physical punishment than we were to our kids. However we agree when we did get a hiding (often half a dozen stripes with belt, wooden spoon, switch) it was deserved and never resented beyond any immediate indignity. That's because we were healthily nurtured by loving parents who knew it was in their charter to ensure we knew right from wrong and exercised good manners and respect. It wasn't their job to be our "friend" and it was our job to learn and obey.
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