Scotland Smacking Ban

[fender62]

emotive subject for some, slap tap call it what you will never did me no harm, or my kids way back when.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4996946/Scotland-UK-BAN-smacking.html

[kvalidir]

It's wrong to hit children, usually wrong to hit anyone, barring self defence or the defence of someone else, that's just common sense and good manners. Anyone who thinks they are instilling 'respect' is delusional, they are instilling fear, and that doesn't correct behaviour, that just drives that behaviour underground and breeds anger and resentment, far better surely to have a conversation with a child and make them understand why something ought not to be done? That gives them the power to alter their behaviour and is life affirming, the alternative does nothing positive whatsoever.

[anotheoldgit]

In visits to supermarkets etc I have witnessed many children screaming, crying and wriggling all over the floor, just because he/she cannot have something or other, much to the annoyance of other customers, whilst it's parent has ignored it, fellow customers have been heard to say "I know what that child needs".

There is nothing wrong in a gentle slap, until they are old enough to be punished for their wrongdoings in other ways.

Why even in the animal kingdom, you will see a mother dog give a misbehaving pup a gentle nip with it's teeth.

[murraymints]

discipline should start from birth..rules laid down and benchmarks set.. if a child is treated like a wee princess , being spoiled , cooed over and getting all their own way from an early age then problems will ensue... it is important to behave as a parent NOT a friend.... a look, a withdrawl of treats should be enough..having said that, we too as children had the occasional wee tap on the bum..it was in no way painful or damaging and we knew we had transgressed for sure...

[albaqwerty]

I have tapped my toddler sons on the back of their hands, usually to stop them putting their fingers into the gas fire.
At that age, they were too young to sit down and have a conversation with about why it wasn't such a good idea.

[Sqad]

I have asked this before on AB and on this very subject, is there any evidence that banning "smacking" as a method of teaching discipline to children, resulted in a less violent society.......more that 30 years on?

[albaqwerty]

' if a child is treated like a wee princess , being spoiled , cooed over and getting all their own way from an early age then problems will ensue..'

couldn't agree more, have seen it with my own eyes.
She, the mother in question, has treated her daughter the same way she was treated, and both are not women I'd want in my company.

[murraymints]

NO and BEHAVE were words we recognised from an early age !!

[murraymints]

doubt it Sqad..the peripheral influences still exist !

[albaqwerty]

it would seem that not banning smacking hasn't reduced violence, sqad, but maybe, just maybe, banning corporal punishment in schools may, just, may have contributed to a more violent society, in that no-one faces any consequences for their actions?
(I'm not putting this very well)
The perpetrators think they can get away with anything in schools because they may get suspended.
Not exactly a deterrent to the 'hard core'

[murraymints]

the belt was always a deterrent ! some teachers were expert ! not that I ever did get it..I am a good girl ! ;0)

[anneasquith]

Someone said earlier,,,, ,, impossible to enforce,

[ummmm]

So we've stopped blaming video games for the rise in violence? Gosh...how trends move on.

[albaqwerty]

anne, I mentioned to Mr Alba last night when this was on the news
'are we going to have a policeman in every home where there's a child under 16?'

[Sqad]

It would seem to me that banning corporal punishment has done NOTHING to improve society from the aspect of violence....the whole object of banning it.
If this was a drug which had been shown to be totally ineffective in treating a disorder, then it would be taken off the market.
Corporal punishment will return.........probably by public demand.

[murraymints]

violent games are one of the peripheral influences I would apportion some blame to !

[hereIam]

I don't see how this can be enforced and a smack on the backside over clothes is NOT beating or abusing a child. Like someone has said on here, animals chastise their young if they get out of hand, that's how they learn.

[ummmm]

Pointing out the blinking obvious...animals can't speak, put their young in time out or confiscate their favourite toys.

[cassa333]

It seems to me that as punishment and admonishment in any meaningful way has declined violence outside has risen.

It seems to be hand in hand with a number of factors that all combine for a perfect storm. No one thing is to blame in isolation. Although some aspects may have more weight though.

Video games, violent films, less strict discipline, family breakdown, the 'prince and princess' mindset, more laid back parenting.

I could go on but it just seems that (although there has always been disrespect in society) it is so much more prevalent now. It has been the liberalisation of society that has/will be its downfall.

We often laugh at some of the wilder aspects of things but they are the precursor to normality.

[hereIam]

Good post cassa.

[Dahlia_Lama]

Without going through everyone's particular preferences I've never 'beaten' my children . I've never hurt them physically . I have however brought on a petted lip and a whimper when I've tapped them on the back of their hand ... that was rather than letting them find out for themselves how sore it would be to put their hand in the fire .
Once we could engage cohesively I never had the need to use any type of violence.
That was until they hit the teenage years . All of the aforementioned went out the window , it was survival of the fittest and for anyone who says it's easy to control a wayward teenager, you've never seen one in action !
It was dog eat dog , nothing to do with whether you lacked control , believe me , it was who was going to back down first . Not a good situation so for all the people who think a stare is enough ... that's okay until they hit puberty . Believe me . I'm through it , I could have easily given up but I didn't . I'm glad I didn't , it has scarred me though , who would have thought that little soul could cause so much grief ? I still never ever used any form of violence ... tempted as I was .