Do you believe physical punishments can be educative?

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

I occasionally got smacked and punished physically as a child, generally by my aunt and occasionally by my mother, and I think that on some measure it did help with my education. That said, I don't think I will be using such methods on my own children.

[MountAverage]

No, of course not. And all the research of the past, I don't know, many decades, have proven that even the supposedly "harmless" smacks are traumatizing to children. Children are EXTREMELY susceptible and emotionally EXTREMELY vulnerable. And they have a fundamental trust in their parent figures, they#re not only physically but also emotionally relying on them. So when they're being attacked by their parent, this fundamental trust will get deeply damaged. And it doesn't "teach" kids anything but fear and submissiveness and that they can't even trust the ones they're most depenent on.

We always hear these anecdotal arguments á la "I was hit as a child and I turned out fine" are worthless and dangerous. First of all it's meaningless as "my uncle was a chain smoker his whole life and never got lung cancer". Who cares, it doesn't change the overall facts. But probably even more importantly - are you sure you turned out fine? I mean, growing up to become a parent who also thinks smacking your children is acceptable doesn't sound fine to me. You're just continuing the cycle of abuse.

Yes, it's abuse. Whethere intended or not, whether you're aware of it or not - it is abuse by definition. No parent is perfect. Parents make mistakes. That's not the problem. The problem is that if your attitude as a parent is this it's an acceptable method and you believe that you can "educate" your children that way, you should literally be forbidden from being even close to children.

[Ευδεμονια]

I sincerely don’t think it’s useful since it only stimulates fear. Fear isn’t a correct way to educate children, since it doesn’t help them comprehend things done wrong and improve but only instills the fear of punishment and the will of break the rules, plus some resentment towards the punisher.
I think always dialogue and good example are the way.

[KatherineJ]

The only physical “punishment” I have ever given my daughter was swatting her hand when she reached out to touch a hot pan. So I swatted her hand away to keep her from getting burned. Other than that, I do not believe in physical punishment to correct unacceptable behavior.

[Blackcosmo]

No it doesn't help. I'm the same as you because my parents have used that form of punishment but I won't be using that. There are other ways to bring about discipline that are positive.

[KoolKita]

I think that getting spanked works.

However, NEVER do it in malice, and make sure to keep it consistent. Like, if you do "fill in the blank" then you get X amount of swats.

[JDBSLAOQ]

no. Its not even close to being on the curriculum to get a teaching license for a reason.

abuse teaches you to do the right thing via fear, sure it teaches, but not in the correct way.

just because children can't fight back doesn't make it an okay tool to "teach" with

[OlderAndWiser]

I think there are too many instances in which people spank a child to vent their anger rather than trying to teach a child. However, I received a few spankings as a child and I don't think I was permanently traumatized by the experience.

[jshm2]

Depends on context.

Just because it "worked" with you, doesn't mean it was a good thing, or will work on anyone else.

You also need to remember that laws, norms and cultures change with generations. You would probably be arrested if you did half the things your parents did, today.

[Subarugirl]

No, research has shown that hitting your child has a similar effect on the brain that sexual abuse does and that it impairs cognitive development.

[bubblegunnn]

Nope not at all, even make it worse.. it will drop their mental down

[Astarlessnightsky]

No, you only learn to better lie and hide stuff from your parents, as they can't be trusted and will only hurt you.

[TrueConfection]

Yep. Try reasoning with a 2 year old. A swift swat on the behind and they will remember not to run off when you say, "hold my hand."

[OddBeMe]

No, violence begets violence.

Your mother and aunt were probably smacked around. Thus they did it to you. Good for you for breaking the cycle.

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

Thanks.
They told me that my grandfather's main educational tool was in fact one of those wooden rulers. He was a teacher and it was common for teachers to cane their students as well some 30 years ago.

[snackthatsmilesback]

Educative about your parents? Sure. Educative as in teaching right from wrong? No. Two wrongs don't make a right.

[Flower7]

No, not at all. They send the wrong messages.

[jennifer_bloom]

I believe light hand and butt spanking should be permitted if it does not bruise or cut the child being disciplined - not only for character management but also because it makes you stronger and more resilient.

[Still-alive]

no its proven definitively at this point that spankings do nothing beneficial at all. its time for us to stop using it

[1GoldTwins]

VERY effective 😈

But kids, no. I prefer giving a punishment that takes away their freedom. Less TV, no phone, no games, no sweets, no trips to the park, no going out with friends, extra chores.

[Adam1978]

No it's not a good lesson. There is plenty of none voilence punishments that is far more effective to keep kids from repeating bad actions. But like everything excessive use will make them completely ineffective.

[Jamie05rhs]

Yes. But it's fear-based. So when the kid grows up and has nothing left to fear, then all of that conditioning tends to go completely out the window.

[msc545]

Only for the punisher. In California, you hit a kid, the kid gets taken away, and you go to jail. You learn the lesson that assaulting kids is still assault.

[baserunner611]

It a time it becomes abused, but can help under the right situation, normally n. First
Try good behavior is true good bad if trid bad taken phones, tv and others

[gayeki]

No, none of them can be educative. But many parents or teachers try this.

[Anonymous]

Children learn to lie more often. I'm excellent at it, thanks to "tough love" I received.

[Snsl153]

No, not at all. Violence never solves problems, it only creates them.

[IesusHominumSalvator]

The answer of a progressive who lives in a Bubble... If violence never solves problems, how would you stop Hitler?

[Snsl153]

@IesusHominumSalvator Do I really need to mention the obvious fact that it was through violence and the support of the army that Hitler got as far as he did in trying to take over Europe?

[IesusHominumSalvator]

Yes i know, how would you stop him after he get all the weapons, soldiers and etc?

[exitseven]

I fot an oven brush abnd stuck it into an electric socket. I was probably 3 or 4 years old. i never did it again.

[Guy13]

Yes as that what the rush is for. Rest of it is uncalled for…

[RuthlessAggression]

i was never hit. i turned out ok

[legalboxers]

my father got off on it (slapping hitting)

[elizamichale1]

Not really.. thts violence

[Agape93]

Yeap

[KrakenAttackin]

There is never a good reason to hit a child.

[Anonymous]

It’s all starting to make sense now.

[monkeynutts]

No. Definitely not.