yes...but only when the offense has been really, really bad. i usually end up spanking them (or dad does) about once a month. most of the time they get thier computer privilages taken away, they can't go play with friends or friends can't come over, no playing with certain toys..etc.

I got spanked and I turned out alright ...kinda lol. There is a difference between spanking and abuse. I dont think spanking is a bad thing.

I spanked my son once in a while. I am not opposed to it but I try to use other disciplines first.
I agree MartiniRossi, I was spanked and I lived through it. Now mind you I have never made my son go cut his own switch from a tree like my dad did to me once (that was a bit extreme).

I don't think it's as uncommon as some people would like. It's getting to a point where more and more parents & guardians are finding other alternatives. Thankfully.

I do not spank my children. I find that loss of privileges and time out work effectively.

No. It doesn't bother me that my parents did with me, though, and I don't gasp in horror if someone says they gave their own kid a spanking.

I don't, no.
I was spanked as a child and it was a singularly ineffective method of controlling my behavior.

I do not, like anniekim it didn't work on me and seeing as how my kids have similar personalities I doubt it would work on them.

I'm only pregnant, but I'm going to try not to spank. I can remember being spanked a few times and it wasn't really all that traumatic, but it seems like spanking tells kids it's okay to hit if someone did something wrong or you're mad.

My dad always told us that spanking helped the parent more than the child.

I think there's a certain etiquette that goes along with spanking a child, ex: never spank your kid while angry, afterwards discuss why the child did the thing they did and how they ought to behave next time and most importantly always let them know you love them.

But I agree with other posters, that's a last resort. For most offenses there are other ways to handle the situation.

I was going to Target yesterday and I saw an incident that both me and my boyfriend both said "I would've spanked that boy". There was a grandma (I think) waiting outside by her car, parked right in front of the store. As we were walking up, a young boy (I'd say 7 or comes hurrying out, crying, with 2 toys in his hands. He walked up to his grandma and KICKS her while screaming I WANT THESE!!! The grandma acts like he didn't just kick her and says no they're too expensive. An employee came out through their conversation we figured out that the grandma had lost the boy and the employee found him with those toys, but he wouldn't put them back. I just couldn't believe he kicked her. I was actually upset by it because they basically told him that behavior is ok, she didn't even look upset! my boyfriend said, if that was my son, I would've spanked him and we would've had LONG talk about getting what you want. And I told him I felt the same, but I couldn't even IMAGINE doing that when I was a kid. That just was NOT acceptable. So I think maybe I was raised differently. I got spanked when I was young and I honestly don't see anything wrong with it. I was bad and I got punished. We didn't have a lot growing up so there wasn't a lot of privelages to take away. Guess it all depends on the person

A long the lines of disciplin... My dad used to say we get dish soap in our mouths if we swore, so one time, he heard me say something to my brothers and demanded that I get soap. Mom said she would "do it" and ended up leaning me over the edge of the sink and let the soap drip right past my mouth and down the drain.

I dont have kids, but I wasnt spanked as a child, my mother disciplined by other methods. I have nieces and nephews who arent spanked and they turned out just fine!

I agree that spanking and abuse are two completely different things. If used in moderation and for consistent reasons, I feel that it can be quite effective.

And I tell you what - nothing will set you straight like getting a spanking when you're too old to get one. That happened to me once. Taught me a thing or two.

I don't agree that "nothing" will set you straight like one. There are plenty of different discipline measures that are effective and plenty that aren't. I can pretty much guarantee that if my parents had given me a spanking past about age 8, I would've laughed in their faces.

I recieved spankings growing up and I don't see anything wrong with them. Now if they become abuse and leave marks on the child then I have a problem, because that's no longer a spanking but abuse.

Also to Greggie's point once the child becomes a certain age it maybe time to employ other disciplinary measures. Honestly can you really spank a teenager lol.

I don't have kids yet, so I can't really say whether or not I will spank. I am not opposed to it... but I think it depends on the child. My brother got spanked a few times when he was REALLY bad and other punishments weren't working. On the other hand, a good stern talking to and being sent to my room was plenty for me to regret what I had done and never want to do it again. So, we'll see what my children respond to

no spanking for me...i don't see how a pat on the butt is going to teach a child a lesson. there are a lot of other forms of discipline that i believe are much more effective and meaningful.

"And I tell you what - nothing will set you straight like getting a spanking when you're too old to get one."
- I have to agree with what Greggie said on this one. When I was older I would have just rather gotten a spanking b/c it was done and over with. Grounding was the thing I hated.
Besides to me that almost implies using embarrassment to punish a kid and I am completely against that.

My SO and I don't have kids, but we've discussed that. We are going to try everything else but spankings. Just this last weekend I was at my brothers' and his step-son was being a terror. They kept telling him to stop and he wouldn't listen. SO and I talked b/c we are against spanking, but what would we have done in that situation? We still aren't sure lol
But like someone else said above - I wasn't the kid my parents spanked. My dad showed that he was disappointed in me that was enough.
I guess it just does depend on the kid.

I really hate the picture used in this story, though. Grabbing your child's arm and twisting it to position them for a spanking is just asking for a dislocated shoulder.

lol, lil was just looking for a fight with this one!

I spank when it is a life of death situation. When serious bodily harm could occur. When she ran away from me in a parking lot. When she jumped in the deep end of the pool, etc. When she is older, there will be spanking offenses that she will know ahead of time, so it will be her choice alone if she is punished. That is what my parents did and it worked great.

I don't think spanking is a bad thing.
Of course don't over do it either.
I only spank my son when he has done something wrong.

But usually I just take his privileges away and ground him.

For every kid there is a way to discipline them that will actually get them to behave. With some children spanking works, getting put in the corner works, etc., etc.. If my child every does something so bad or doesn't listen after a lot of other punishments don't work, then I will spank the child. I probably wouldn't do it very hard, but if that is the only punishment that will work after trying other ones then it needs to be done. Spanking all the time isn't good and neither is yelling constantly, but every now and then it is okay to spank.

I'm a little confused--what the heck do car seats and spankings have to do with each other????? THat was a very bizarre sentence. You seem to be implying that parents were irresponsible about personal safety for their children and that spankings are equatable with driving a child not in a car seat????? That is one heckuva value judgment.

The problem with spankings is that when spankings were last used as a predominate form of discipline, was at the same time when there was next to no public awareness of child abuse and no system in place to deal with it. Now, we all have such a consciousness of it: there are tv commercials, our children are talked to about it at school and, in Canada, teachers have an obligation to report parents if they think there is the slightest chance of abuse. While there definitely were parents who overdid the physical discipline, and spanking could be abusive, it isn't always. Many of our generation were spanked as kids and survived just fine. We may not have liked them--that was kinda the point--it did not ruin our self-esteem forever. Or even longer than a few minutes. A quick whack on the bottom for children over 2, under 9 or ten, is not abuse.

I don't, but I don't have a problem with it if it is done in a calm, disciplinary manner. Not an "I have no control over you, so I will use the only thing I have, which is my strength" sort of thing.

I will spank to draw attention to a serious offense, like if my kids ever dart into traffic, etc. Hasn't happened yet, but I would be okay with that scenario.

We use time outs and take away privileges, it works pretty well.

My son's still too little for punishment really, but I would spank if necessary. It would probably be a last resort of if it was a major offense like darting into the street.

i don't believe in spanking don't think hitting is necessary to get it through a kids head. plus i really want to teach my children how the real world works and in it if you do something bad someone doesn't spank you. but what really made me make that the decision not to is i think kids don't fully understand alot of time why they are being spanked and could lead to low self esteem and also i don't think i can tell my kids not to hit someone else when they do something they don't like and when my kid does something i don't like i hit them. i don't want to be hypocritical in anyway i want to lead by example.

I am a spanker but I only spank for my daughter's benefit. I took her by the hand and spanked her 3 times on her panted, skirt up bottom (sort of like the picture only the skirt is a darker green and her skirt was up above her waist). I would never spank my son or daughter bare nor more that 7 times. I think that is the limit between a spanking and abuse.

Human behavior science has discovered spanking can somtimes create sadomasochistic fetishes. I suffered that fate. Why risk robbing a childs sexuality for life? Expensive therapy unconvered unconscios repressed trauma from a ritulized deliberately shameing proceedure being stripped to semi nudity with genital exposure to my mother and then put over her knee and spanked by her hand. Now I live with rage and hate of her memory and an attraction to sexual masochism which caused marraige issues. Go ahead an endorse or spank you kids and risk robbing them emotionally or sexually.

there is nothing wrong with spanking a child if you use the right method it is a process and the difference between spanking and abuse all depends on how long you spank them, what object you use, and most of all the intent that you have while spanking

First of all, let me say that I have no children. I believe spanking is OK under certain circumstances. As many of you know, children can sometimes drive you over the edge. I don't believe in spanking just because you are angry with the children. I believe that a parent should be calm themselves before they start spanking a child. I know that sometimes, parents spank in the heat of the moment, and they shouldn't. When that happens, it CAN lead to abuse. I have 4 great grand children, and I seldom spank them when I watch them. I try to hold my temper, settle myself down, and I try to explain to them why they did something bad. I give them a chance. Then, if they turn around and do the samething again on purpose, then I give them a smack. Especially when I know they are doing it to push me to see if I will spank them. When I was young, my parents made me go get a switch. When that happened, I knew I was going to get it. When I didn't get a big enough one, I was told to go get another. I was only switched 2 or 3 times, and I can honestly say that they were not bad. Just a couple of whacks taught me not to disobey my parents. I feel that I grew up a lot more respectful than most. I feel that it is OK to use a switch. After all it is a Biblical principal. Spare the rod, spoil the child. I don't believe that a switch should be applied repeatedly, 5 or 10 times, but I believe that once a child has tasted the switch, the idea of them getting hit again goes a long way towards their positive behavior. One or 2 hits with the switch is usually enough. Just the threat of the switch usually stops the bad behavior at once. If I tell them I'm going to go get the switch, they settle instantly, and if they don't, I will, on occasion use my hand on their buttocks. I will also just pull my belt out of my pants and that usually stops the bad behavior. My grandchildren know when I am angry, and usually when they see my look, they won't press any further. I don't believe that anything I have ever done, even remotely would be consider abuse, but I have certainly seen it in public. When a parent repeatedly hits a child 5 or 6 times, that is what I consider abuse. Especially when the child is hit so hard as to bend their body. I have seen that. That is disgusting, and that is what I consider abuse. To lift a child off the ground to beat them is also what I consider abuse. To hit once or twice with a switch will certainly teach a child not to behave badly more than getting beat repeatedly with the hand 5 or 6 times. I keep a switch handy, and I have only hit the grandchildren one time each with it, just a love tap to let them know what it would feel like if they were to get hit like it would be applied for real. Each of them has had just that little taste, and when I even threaten to go get the switch, it quickly puts an end to the bad stuff. I don't feel that I have abused them, I just want them to behave, and the threat does the trick.

As for Renees3's comment about the child in Target, here is my suggestion for how to handle a similar situation. Before you go to the store, you have to remember to instruct your children on the behavior(s) you expect them to show in that situation. We as adults sometimes forget that children need to be reminded (seeminly constantly sometimes) about how to behave. You may also choose to tell the child that they will receive a reward if they show those specific behaviors. (Don't just say "if you are good", define what that means for the child.) If the child is behaving as you have asked, PRAISE him or her. Talk and interact with your child as you are shopping. Don't just treat them as if it is inconvenient to have them around. If they misbehave or throw a tantrum, calmly and quickly remove them from the store - even if it means you have to leave an entire cart of merchandise behind.

Spanking, in my view, should be done only rarely, when you think it is necessary for your child to remember when s/he does something seriously wrong. It should be done only to children who are not yet at "the age of reason" -- i.e., mostly pre-schoolers. No anger need be shown, it should not be hard or prolonged, and talking about it before and after is a must.

Everything said Divine guidance tells us:

(Proverbs 13:24) 24 The one holding back his rod is hating his son, but the one loving him is he that does look for him with discipline.

(Proverbs 22:15) 15 Foolishness is tied up with the heart of a boy; the rod of discipline is what will remove it far from him.

(Proverbs 23:13-14) 13 Do not hold back discipline from the mere boy. In case you beat him with the rod, he will not die. 14 With the rod you yourself should beat him, that you may deliver his very soul from She′ol itself.

(Proverbs 29:15) 15 The rod and reproof are what give wisdom; but a boy let on the loose will be causing his mother shame.

However it also says:

(Galatians 5:22-23) . . .On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 mildness, self-control. . .

Spanking should be administered with self control and NEVER administered in ANGER!

My parents spanked me. They used a paddle and gave me a few swats on my bare-bottom. It hurt and I learned to behave.

Hi... im a 13 years girl. i dont spank. i get spanked. and actually i think its okey. when i do something wrong i get grounded or mom take my cell-phone. but when i do something really bad dad spanks me. i like it and i hate it.
i remember first time i got spanked. me and some friends were out. and smoked. then mom was driving to the shop, same shop we were sitting whit. my mom took me in the ear and we walked to the car. mom locked the car and went shoping. then we drived home. dad sat on my room. i didnt understand what i meant when he told me to take my pents of. so i did it. and he took e in the arm and got me over his knees. then he told me how "bad" i have been. so it started. he was not angry anymore and he just used his hand. in 30 minutes he spanked me. hard but not to hard. my boot was red but not blue. and it was over. and i think... or know that teens need to be spanked sometimes. but not to hard and just whit the hand and not in anger. BUT children over 18 or under 13 should NOT be spanked.

the only spanking that is done in our house is between me and the wife before sex

the term spank pertains to a pre sexual act aswell so you have to be careful because spank a child sounds pedophillic when it comes to a child it should be smacking not spanking

Child buttock-battering vs. DISCIPLINE:

Child buttock-battering for the purpose of gaining compliance is nothing more than an inherited bad habit.

Its a good idea for people to take a look at what they are doing and learn how to DISCIPLINE instead of hit.

I think the reason why television shows like "Supernanny" and "Dr. Phil" are so popular is because that is precisely what many (not all) people are trying to do.

There are several reasons why child buttock-battering isn't a good idea. Here are some good, quick reads recommended by professionals:

Plain Talk About Spanking
by Jordan Riak,

The Sexual Dangers of Spanking Children
by Tom Johnson,

NO VITAL ORGANS THERE, So They Say
by Lesli Taylor M.D. and Adah Maurer Ph.D.

Most compelling of all reasons to abandon this worst of all bad habits is the fact that buttock-battering can be unintentional sexual abuse for some children. There is an abundance of educational literature, testimony, documentation, etc available on the subject that can easily be found by doing a little research on the topic.

Just a handful of those who are helping to raise awareness of why child buttock-battering isn't a good idea:

American Academy of Pediatrics

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Center For Effective Discipline

PsycHealth Ltd Behavioral Health Professionals

Churches' Network For Non-Violence

Nobel Peace Prize recipient Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Parenting In Jesus' Footsteps

Global Initiative To End All Corporal Punishment of Children

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

Countries where child buttock-battering is prohibited by law:
Sweden, Finland, Norway, Austria, Cyprus, Italy, Denmark, Latvia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Germany, Israel, Iceland, Ukraine, Romania, Hungary, Greece, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Uruguay, Venezuela, Chile, Spain, Costa Rica, Republic of Moldova, and more in process.
In fact, the US was the only UN member that did not ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

I wasn't spanked as a child, my mom and grandmother had this look that if I did something wrong I automatically knew and would just go straight to my room without saying a word. I hope to have the same look with my kids

My sons are 9 and 11 and I find that on occiassion, a bare bottom spanking with an open hand is effective.

Well, I believe in the Bible and the doctrine in the Bible relating to everything. I use the Bible as my guideline for everything in my home from how to have a relationship with the Lord to how to have a manageable home to rearing my own kids.

Let me clarify spanking, it's a Biblical loving of correction not abuse. If you grab your kid and swing your hand along the backside, head, arm, hand, anything... that's not Biblical correction.

Biblical correction is more of explaining to your child what he/she did wrong more than the spanking itself.

Plus, when the kids are really young, like crawling age to maybe 3 depending on the kid, it's not correction... it's training.. they don't know better so we are teaching them that there are some things that are meant not to be touched or obedience is the best way to go.

What I do with my kids... (my method is from the Bible and very effective! You don't need to child proof your home.. you need to home proof your child.) I have no baby gates, all my stuff is where they should belong not put away high enough where the kids can't reach it. They learn very young and quickly which can and can't be touched and we are all happy and relaxed knowing that my stuff are safe.

For example with young children from the time when they are crawling and know the word no (believe it or not, babies learn the word no before they are crawling)

when they touch a forbidden object, (it's not called correction, it's a great training time) I say no, once and watch.. they will look at you and wonder what the word no, and become curious... touch it again... I say no again.... they touch it again... but this time, I say no, accompained with a small flick on their chubby back of their hand, not enough to hurt but enough to feel it. I only repeated that maybe 2-3 times then they lost interest in that. I do set up training tools, like forbidden sharp objects such as knives (I use a dull plastic knife so less injury and very close watch), my keys, things like that... in no time they will learn it's better to keep off the forbidden stuff and stick to what Mommy bought them!

Then there will come a time when your chubby angel turns in a very active youngster...

Correction is more likely in this time and age range... around 18 months to 5 years. Correction is only for disobedience, defiance, and disrespect. My 3D's which request immediate correction...

Obedience is the head rule in our house... obey, obey, obey no matter what because it could save their life. We live in a country house out in where there are snakes, other animals are more harmful than good... One time, my daughter when she was only 19 months, knew obedience very well, was playing in the field and there was a snake coming up to her, I told her to freeze... she instantly obeyed and stood there and didn't move a muscle (a 19 month old) until I killed the snake. Obedience....

There's no 3 strikes, none of that... 1 strike and you are out, period.

Obedience is carried out immediately. When you don't obey...

I always say go to your room..... then come in shortly afterwards....

Then I will ask what did you do wrong, then why will I give you a correction....

Then have them bend over their bed and give them swats with a wooden spoon (never with your hand, separate yourself with the discipline) according to their ages, and severity of the offense, normally by their ages...

Then I sit on the bed and cuddle them, and ask again why I just corrected them. They will recite their misdeeds usually...

I always say it was because you disobeyed, disrespected, or was defiant.. whatever what they did... I don't care about what they did. The point was that they disobeyed, that's it.. I always emphasize the 3D's not the actual misbehavior and it really help them learn how to behave.

I have followed this method with all 4 kids of mine (5th on the way!!!) It works wonders...

It's not about spanking or correction, it's about teaching your kids from right and wrong and have right morals for themselves and others.

my child do wrong he or she will be spank it parent right other person have no say in it