Smacking Children
Though smacking (in various levels) has been experienced by most from generation to generation, in general experts agree that it is not an effective way to discipline a child. Smacking may stop a child at that moment from whatever he or she is doing, but it is also unlikely to have a lasting effect.
Is it an Effective Form of Discipline?
Children who are smacked may refrain from repeating a misdemeanour rather than risk another smacking, but they obey only as long as the risk of smacking is there. They often don't respect those delivering the smack and frequently don't learn to differentiate right from wrong (only what they get smacked for and what they don't get smacked for). This is at odds with the main aim of discipline - ensuring your child learns right from wrong behaviour.
Smacking also has many negative impacts. For one, it teaches violence. Children learn most by example. If you hit your child, you're telling the child that hitting is reasonable behaviour. Children who are treated aggressively by their parents are more likely to be aggressive themselves and to take out their angry feelings on others who are smaller and weaker than they are.
Another negative manifestation of smacking is that it teaches children that the best way to settle disputes is with force. This can deny them the chance to learn alternative, less hurtful routes to dealing with anger and frustration.
When you smack in anger - generally when you have reached breaking point and lost your temper - you have lost control. At this point, you are not in the best frame of mind to discipline effectively, and it might be better to stop, and to try and calm down before further disciplining your child.
It is important to differentiate smacking from serious abuse. If you feel that you want to use smacking to help discipline your child it does not make you an abusive parent. There is certainly a line where excessive smacking becomes abusive; however the majority of parents who smack their children do so perfectly safely and within the law.
What is The Law on Smacking?
It is now unlawful for a parent or carer to smack their child, except where this amounts to 'reasonable punishment'. Whether a 'smack' amounts to reasonable punishment will depend on the circumstances of each case taking into consideration factors like the age of the child and the nature of the smack. In essence, mild smacking is allowed but any which causes visible bruising, grazes, scratches, swellings or cuts is not and is deemed excessive and becomes assault and is abusive.
Although a mild smack might be warranted in certain circumstances - in a dangerous situation to get a serious message across to a child too young to understand words. For example when a toddler wanders out into a busy road or tries to touch a hot cooker. However, for most people, there are plenty of alternative, better, ways to discipline.
Parents do sometimes smack their children, but it is far better to teach and lead by example that hitting is wrong.
