Child Discipline: spanking or no spanking?

[HotMamma]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I find it unnerving when I go shopping and I find a spoiled little kid screaming and yelling until he gets his way and mommy finally gets him that toy or whatever he wants. If I ever behaved this way when I was that I age I would have definately gotten a swat on the butt and have been removed from the store.

I know today is a different age then say 20-30 years ago. What do you think is the best way to discipline young children? Do you agree with spanking or not spanking?

I'd love to know your thoughts...

[Danielle]

I agree with you that kids are not getting disciplined like they should. The spanking issue is a tuffy. I was spanked as a child and it kept me in line. With my own toddler, I take away a toy for a day (or two) each time she gets out of line. This method is working good. Taking away toys away from a toddler is way more terrifying than getting spanked.

[jaescafe]

Spanking is a tough issue. I personally don't think spanking is wrong, but there is a line a parent can cross if they're not careful.

I'm scared to spank my kids in public because I'm afraid someone will yell "child abuse" (not literally, but you know what I mean). It's so hard to be a parent and there are always new issues to worry about. It's definitely the most important job I could ever have.

[La Marqueza]

I always used the time out method before I ever resorted to spanking. I think as a parent you need to try many different things and decide what works best. But once you find it stick with it. Children will know when you vacillate too much and won't even bother to listen to you.

[curious]

Originally Posted by HotMamma

I don't know about the rest of you, but I find it unnerving when I go shopping and I find a spoiled little kid screaming and yelling until he gets his way and mommy finally gets him that toy or whatever he wants. If I ever behaved this way when I was that I age I would have definately gotten a swat on the butt and have been removed from the store.

I know today is a different age then say 20-30 years ago. What do you think is the best way to discipline young children? Do you agree with spanking or not spanking?

I'd love to know your thoughts...

Spanking is one of the most controversial discipline methods. On one side of the debate are parents who believe it is all right to spank their children. On the other side are those who think that children should never be spanked. Somewhere in the middle are parents who believe that spanking should only be used in particular instances (e.g., when the child runs into the street). Part of the reason for the debate is that parents and experts often define spanking differently.

[cw171153]

Spanking is such a controversial issue, but no one can honestly tell you what to do with your child. For example, my husband and I are both headstrong individuals.. and so is our child!! She is very advanced to be 8 months and wants to get into and explore everything. We don't spank her, but she loves to play with things that she isn't supposed to. She just finds them and pulls them out. We pop her hand the first time and she gets the idea, but if she goes back we go for a spank across the bottom and the lesson is learned. Spanking can be used to an extent, but some children don't need spanking and there can other ways to discipline them...

But to agree.. I hate seeing those little spoiled kids the grocery store and especially Wal-Mart! Playing with thet toys, knocking things over, hollering and passing out in the middle of the floor when they don't get their way.. ooh its annoying! :-)

I completely agree that many children are not disciplines as they should be, but that does not mean spanking to me. Yeah, I have swatted my kids butts and smacked their hands and I don't think it makes me a bad person or parent. I believe kids who act horrible in public (and not very young ones who are tired etc.) act that way because their parents let them get away with it.

When my family goes out to eat, my children sit on their chairs the whole time and face the people at our table. That is a rule I have. I see so many other kids climbing under the table, standing on the chairs and actually running around the restarant. Sad.

[soccermom]

An alternative to spanking is to ignore them. You should try to ignore attention-seeking or demanding tantrums and avoid situations that you know will lead to a tantrum (including changes in their regular daily schedule). If you can see that your child is getting overly frustrated and that a tantrum is coming, you can try to distract him and shift his attention to something else.
Help your child to realize that temper tantrums don't work are not going to help them get out of doing things that they need to do. Remember to praise your child when he controls his temper and cooperates with what you want him to do and set a good example for your child by remaining calm and not getting fired-up or out of control.

[Melos]

Ignoring temper tantrums is a good idea. But most bad behavior does not stem from temper tantrums. Despite parents who think their child doesn't have a 'bad' bone in their body, most things a child does wrong (once they are over 3) are all for testing their limits. Parents have to give the limits or the kids will just get worse and worse.

[feline]

What I did with my children when they do that in the store is that I told them that the answer is a NO and when they started 'playing tantrums' just to get what they want, I told them to stop or else we're gonna leave them there. Well, it works but most of the time, they never really did it. As far as I can remember, they were just testing me but since they know that I have a firm decision, they never did it again.