My parents never lay a hand on me. And I was (at least until teenagerhood) a perfectly well behaved child. To the point of geekiness.

I remember never wanting to do the wrong thing, because I didn't want to upset my folks. I think mine is a fairly good example of positive reinforcement.

I guess smacking your kid wouldn't be such a bad thing if there was no other option. But there's always other options. A smack may seem the most effective way, but it's really just the easiest way. Also, they're too small to hit back.

Having said that though, make your kid shut up or get off the tram.

I was caned twice at school, once for slapdash writing, once for drawing a rude picture of the teacher on the blackboard.My parents didn't hit us much, but Dad had a big leather strop hanging on the wall[for his razors] and one look from him to us and to the strop, turned us into instant angels.
My lot got a wallop when I considered it would be benificial to their well being and to mine when they overstepped the bounds of family law.
I do not think the politically correct social engineers over the past thirty years have been of great good in this country, in fact, I would like to see my father's strop used on quite a lot of them.

This point came up with my elder daughter about 2 years ago on the event of fathers day. She, then 24 years of age said to me - "Dad you were a disciplinarian when we were growing..... "

When she and her younger sister used to snipe at one another in the back of the car I would threaten to bang their heads together - and eventually would pull the car over, get out, grab some head hair in each hand and then, judiciously clop said heads together. Occassionally, I would apply a flat hand to the backs of legs. I used a flat hand to remind me of how hard the blow was. My ex wife preferred a wooden spoon - such weaponry I disapprove of, the sting I felt was a reminder of how judicious a blow was needed to chastise my, generally, well behaved and beautiful daughters.

Spirited children test the boundaries of their universe. As parents it is our responsibility to maintain certain or those boundaries against which our children will rebel.

So be it, the conclusion to my daughters state (earlier) was ".... but we needed it."

She is the happiest person I know. She never took drugs or smoked she is buying her second property and holds a responsible job. She doesnot accept crap from anyone.

Was corporal punishment necessary in rearing my daughters - yes
Was it applied - yes
Do I regret it - no
Do my daughters regret it - no

There - in my book experience counts more than political correctness or bunkum and bulldust of a bunch of knowall theoristic busybodies.

..and my experience counts for nothing, apparently

"In previous centuries, special defences existed in legislation in many states to justify corporal punishment of wives, servants, slaves and apprentices. Violence to women remains far too prevalent, but in most states it is no longer defended in legislation. It
is paradoxical and an affront to humanity that the smallest and most vulnerable of people should have less protection from assault than adults".

www.endcorproalpunishment.org

Spendocrat, your experience does count. However, I am interested in your comments about being well behaved until you turned into a teenager. Perhaps a memory of a few well-deserved clips under the ear might have made you a slightly better behaved teenager!? :) Do you have kids? I am guessing not, or you would have a better understanding of how smacking fits into general child-rearing, particularly in their early years.

I guess it depends on how you define smacking too. Smacking with an open palm is indeed a good gauge of how much force to apply - you get a sting too. Punching a child should never be acceptable. I also have trouble with the idea of using a weapon of any nature.

I remember being smacked (or hit) 3 times, twice by Dad, who always threatened to use the belt hanging behind the door, but only ever smacked with an open palm, usually on the arm, and once by Mum, who DID use the belt. I know I thoroughly deserved it every time!