Slapping

[langara]

I have to get this off my chest, so here goes. Whilst putting my 2yr old grandson in a Supermarket trolley today, I saw a huge brute of a man Slap his 2/3 yr old so hard across his head I wouldn't be surprised if he hadn't perforated his eardrum, the child went brilliant red and was in shock. The man's wife/partner remonstrated with him by saying his name and that was it. I need to know what I should have done and said. As it was I did nothing and now feel so ashamed.

[Velvetee]

But it's unaccepable to hit them around the head. A child of 2 or 3 is still learning and you cannot really reason with them. The poor child probably couldn't understand why it was assaulted and hurt like this.

Few people would tolerate seeing someone beat a defenceless dog, so why let it happen to a small, defenceless child. A smack on the hand or leg, is completely different to a hefty wack around the head.

If this had gone up to someone else in the supermarket and hit them around the head, he would be up on assault charges.

[shanilisa]

I don't believe that lack of physical punishment breeds a non-violent society (see clarification below). Sometimes a child needs a smack(on legs or bottom) when misbehaving - you cannot reason with a toddler with a time out in a potentially life threatening situation. I do not, however, agree with physical abuse, and smacking a child (or any person) on the head is just that.

I live in South Africa - here our violent crime rate is out of control, and the majority of our nation do not believe in corporal punishment for children - case closed on the non-violent society argument. Spare the rod and all that.....

[woozer]

When I was a child my parents TOLD me what to do and I did it - they did not negotiate with me (or argue with each other about it in front of me), and if they said I would get a smack, lose pocket money etc etc - then that is exactly what happened - no more no less and no discussion until after the punishment was concluded - then a brief chat about why what I had done was not acceptable. I usually got a smack (round the legs) if I was having a temper tantrum or about to do something really dangerous to myself - it resolved things very quickly and then that was an end to it .
Langara, I dont know how you could have intervened personally, you might have made things worse for the child as if a bully is embarassed they will take it out on someone weaker - but perhaps a word to the social services if you know who the parents are ?

[tamirra]

Yes i have smacked both of my children both parents now by the way, but it was never ever to harm or hurt them, it was to teach hem that what they had sid or done was not acceptable, i was smacked as a child and it done me no harm what so ever, you do need to show right from wrong in an enviroment like we have today.

[Bettyboo22]

Me ,my sister and my brother ( 14yr, 12 yr and 3yr ) have always been slapped by our mum around the head ect. Until one my dad challenged her about it head on and she hasn't done it since.