Spare the rod and spoil the child?

I was spanked during my childhood and so were my sisters......we're not violent and we don't hit people.......so it doesn't teach that...no....

I don't believe in spanking, but don't think it turns kids into violent people.

I was spanked a LOT as a kid, and it hurt so badly that I don't want to do that to any of my future hypothetical children. I'm actually a pacifist, so it may have had the opposite affect on me!

I don't think that a child can ever do anything bad enough to warrent physical abuse, which is what I consider spanking.

(no kids yet, just my opinion/belief)

I believe there are times for physical punishment but i mainly make my son do pushups, jumping jacks & run in place when he has issues.

I absolutely DO NOT condone spanking. I believe in loving my children and punishing them through other means when they're disrespectful. To me, it just is not an option.

Spanker and Spankee here. I don't think it causes violence. No it isn't always necessary for every situation, but can be affective..... IMO

I have two children and they are very different from one another. My daughter (8yrs old) is good as gold and always has been. If I say don't, she doesn't. My son on the other hand is very head strong and defiant. I have tried swatting his bottom when he's really out of control, but all it does is make the situation worse. It's not that I disagree with a good spanking when it's needed, but I really believe that it depends on the child and the circumstances. I too often wonder what others think about this. Hope everyone has a beautiful day!

I was spanked a lot as a child, and I KNOW my parents loved me (and still do), but at the same time, I just remember being so afraid to do anything because I didn't want to get spanked. My parents did an amazing job raising me, but I just don't think that it's healthy to tell someone (aka your child) how much you love them and then hit them when they do something that you perceive as wrong. Of course, I have no children, but when I do, I will do everything I can to avoid physical punishment.

I think striking another person is demeaning (for both) and humiliating. It doesn't 'teach' anything except bigger ppl can get their way with violence.
I strongly disapprove of hitting children and animals. They are completely defenseless and WHAT can a child or dog do to deserve that? Now when my 18 mo old son was sticking his finger in an electrical socket, I did smack his hand - I felt terrible, but I figure it's better than him being electrocuted.
But no, I think hitting is wrong. period. it is never right. and people who hit eventually meet someone who can & will kick their *kitten*

I don't have kids, but I was spanked when I was a child and I think it was effective. Of course, it should not be hard enough to injure the child, just a momentary small amount of pain to associate with bad behavior.

I was spanked but in a violent, painful way. I think my father was a bit sadistic. Nothing scared me more than him saying, "go to your room and lean over the bed." I would have to wait there for him to come in, undo his leather belt, and whack me with it. It hurt like the ****ens. I don't think that was the right way to treat a child. I'm not saying that sometimes kids don't need to be whacked a bit on their bum to get them in line, but this way was wrong. I remember when I was 12, and my father told me I was now too old to be spanked. I went to my room and cried in private, I was so relieved.

My opinion is the spanking needs to occur immediately so the child can associate it and the bad behavior, and it mustn't be too hard. The idea is not to cause the child pain. It's too easy to let spanking turn into abuse.

This is VERY simular to my situation. I'm sorry that you had to go through this!

Spank away! Just don't go overboard with it--it doesn't need to hurt much to be effective.

I got my tail whipped on a regular bases, but I was never violent or felt like I wanted to hit others. I didn't spank my kids much when they were younger, mostly if there actions was going to cause harm to themselves. I tried my best to make the punishment fit the crime. If I did spank them, I would make them wait first. I would tell them, you are getting a spanking for what you have done, go sit in your room and think about what you have done. I will be in there in a little bit. They would cry more waiting on it, then when I did it. I would talk to them after they calm down and they would say they wish they had never done it. I rarely had to spank for the same reason more than once.

Thanks mom and dad for spanking me when I needed it. I wouldn't be the hard-working/driven/independent/intellectual person I strive to be today without the discipline you gave to me when needed. Spanking, not out of anger/frustration, but rather spanking out of love/commitment/encouragement/betterment. Yes, there is a difference. Spanking was harder on my parents then on me receiving it, a life lesson always was learned with it.

I had my fair share growing up & my siblings share too... ( I was an only child) I dont run around hitting people.
I believe in it Occasionally, but with my child its progressive & depends on the crime committed..
sometimes he gets time out, sometimes its no toys, no fun stuff, sometimes its go walk laps in the yard, or jog laps, sometimes its a swat on the butt.
I think as long as you are fair & not cruel & explain why they are being punished it sets boundaries & teaches respect.
YOU CANT WAIT TILL YOUR CHILD IS A TEENAGER & OUT OF CONTROL
Small corrections when they are small & learn boundaries is better than the alternative

Just my opinion, everyones got one & you know how that saying goes

Do you believe in spanking children, or do you think it teaches them that it’s ok to hit people and in turn makes them violent?

Within reason I do. If they spill milk or somethign stupid then no. When I think about people that are so anti-spanking and let's "talk" and negotiate about everything I look back at history and how things have changed so much. In general, kids seem to be pretty out of control and they have very little respect for anybody or anything. When I was a kid I spoke to my friends parents and other adults as Mr. so-and-so, Ms/Mrs. so-and-so. I would never dream cus at another adult or disrepsect them because I knew my dad would kick my butt. Plus, it seems that kids have a very big sense of entitlement anymore. They expect everything be given to them, expensive clothes, phones, cars, etc. I didn't want for anything as a kid but I damn sure appreciated everything I got because I earned it in one way or another. Additionally to the total lack of respect you have kids bringing weapons to school and hurting each other, killing each other, kids doing things that get them charged as adults. Sure we had gangs and stuff growing up but I kind of see that as a different issue than your regular suburban upper-middle class teenager coming in a popping other kids at random. It's just so different and I'm glad my step-son is almost out of high school; I feel for anybody that has younger kids.

There's a time to talk and negotiate and then there's a time where kids need to know who's boss and what they're going to do, how they're going to do it, and when they're going to do it and what are the consequences of not doing it. Most things should be earned in some manner be it grades, chores at home, attitude / respect, etc. We did family counseling with my other step-son and both counselors said basically we have to give kids love, basic food, basic clothing, and an education, past that everything is a bonus and should be earned.