R0bert: <" also an issue which is quite deeply held by some christain fundies who believe that god has commanded them to hit children...">

I once read a comment where someone said that they like to think of
"spare the rod; spoil the child" as a directive rather than a warning. (I agree).

On the whole I agree with Mikk too.

While a tap on the hand can say a thousand words, and is sometimes better than a whole lot of words loaded on someone who is too little to follow the reasoning, it was absolutely a last resort in our household. We raised three lovely, GOOD, industrious people, without terrorizing anyone.

Mine were so used to warmth and approval that just a frown or a mild "No" was enough.

I think we have to get beyond the notion that all people are born basically evil; that if we don't hit them they won't learn. Anyone can stamp out unwanted behaviour, but the child has to be given an alternative - that is, be taught the desirable behaviour.

"Discipline" <- like the word disciple. It involves education and modeling behaviour and inspiring people to follow.

MaryE you have been a bit hard on us friend, many of us do not know the right address to send you.
But we know the law and that it has indeed stopped the smack on the bum.
Jewely, Julie, pied piper tell us please mate .
RObert thanks yet again, and good to see huffnpuff back, good post.
Some are unaware of the dreadful things that have happened to H and P stay Strong, never ever give in .
We all surely can see the difference, between abuse and smacking.
I must put my cards on the table, my party as more politically correct fools than most.
While I know of no plans to put such laws in place it was a dieing and lost Labor party that went off the rails with this law in NZ.
My childhood was different than todays kids see, we like all kids got kicked out the door when visitors came, seen but not heard was the idea.
I learn a great deal from todays parents, the love and care shown to kids is far better than we had far better than I gave, but I gave far far better than I got, lets hope the trend continues.
Apart from Antonio no one has said we should not smack, I find comfort in the view that rightly measures opinions on this subject.
Abuse, well once men could say Gday in the street to children, or neighbors, not a threat never just being good people, now pedophiles and such take that away mums maybe dads just maybe need to think is that hurting the child, are we right to teach kids to suspect every stranger?
Julie forgive my spelling I see your home in my mind as full of kids much like mine was and bet like me your bark is much worse than your bite, but keep your story's coming its a good memory.

I agree with huffnpuff...

Smacking is sometimes an undesirable but necessary discipline but the a loving parent knows when smacking stops and abuse begins and to be honest, the pain from a strong smack quickly recedes but the pain of strong words can carry all the way through adulthood. I know because I can still recall some.

As for any law.. despite all the bleeding experts, parents know their children best and the experts and other officionados should stand behind loving parents in disciplining their children and not against them or encouraging them to phone up or leave home or indulge the teenage super-opinions in the journey for the development of over indulgent self entitlement.

To my own daughters.. one said a couple of years back (she was 27 at the time) ... I was strict with her when she was growing up .... but she needed it... Kids need limits and boundaries to push against and those who are not provided with limits end up as the anti-social scum-bags with no respect for other peoples rights who we see fighting and either drunk or OD on recreational drugs.

I got many smacks when I was a kid, I have also smacked my kids when they were young.

I just wish people would MIND THEIR OWN BUSINESS. It's like bloody religion, never satisfied, always have to try and change other peoples worlds.

“But we know the law and that it has indeed stopped the smack on the bum.
Jewely, Julie, pied piper tell us please mate .”

The law wasn’t there when I left Belly baby.

It used to be more about “reasonable force”. I have seen judges decide a kid with broken bones because his parent went nuts when he wet his pants was “reasonable force” though.

I don’t need the particulars or the wording, it is a silly law and like most laws isn’t about the crime but the ability to prosecute or use a trivial law when something else has failed.

If I was in paranoid mode and without knowing a thing how this law is being viewed in Oz I would suspect a few fostering NGO’s would love a law like this to acquire some more children/cash in their industry.

But if anyone wants to they can wade through this and then let us all know:

http://www.parliament.nz/NR/rdonlyres/0F294939-83D6-486C-B0DF-BEB956729AF6/51146/DBHOH_BILL_6844_39294.pdf

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10440080

Mikk

You confirm that the non smacking brigade are often the most violent. Why am I surprised. Maybe you needed the cane as you were growing up to deal with your little ugly tantrums. Maybe then you would think a little more rationally an less like and emotional cripple.