He has just admitted to using violence to discipline his children and says that two thirds of parents want to abolish the anti-smacking law. Two thirds! I asked around and nobody I know was actually asked to be in this survey. I wasn't either - which is why I shall share my anti-smacking views now.
In my mind there is never any excuse to hit children for disciplinary reasons no matter how annoying they are. It's a punishment that is derived from rage, not reason. It hurts, it's demeaning and it teaches children that it's okay to hit. There is a wealth of research proving that smacking damages children both physically and psychologically. And for all those who say, 'I got hit and I turned out fine', well no, you didn't, because you think hitting is okay and you will pass that message on to another generation and the world will become a crappier place in which to live.
So yes, hitting to discipline is not okay. But in other circumstances such as outlined below, hitting your child is necessary and awesome.
When Your Child is on Fire
If your child somehow manages to set himself alight it is perfectly acceptable to hit at his flaming limbs with your hands in an attempt to put out the fire. Other methods include fire extinguishers, water, and the classic 'Stop, Drop and Roll' - brilliantly performed by Mareko/Deceptikonz.
When Your Child is Being Savaged by Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are similar to Colin Craig. They both suck. If you see a sneaky mosquito on your child's arm, chin deep in pudgy flesh, swelling gently as it guzzles your sweet baby's blood, it is helpful to slap at the arm in order to kill the mosquito. If you do not, the mosquito will call its mates for an easy meal. Your child will itch and scratch all night and if they receive too many bites they will feel sick, (and there's also the whole malaria thing which is another reason to be thankful we live in barely tropical New Zealand).
When your Child is Not Breathing
Every parent should know how to do CPR. Do a course or at the very least, check out the St John CPR 'How To' guide here. (To be fair, chest compressions aren't exactly 'hitting', it's more 'pushing' - but it's a very fine line from pushing and shoving to hitting and bashing, am I right?)
Hitting to make your child obey is stupid. The anti-smacking law may be clumsy but it sends a message that New Zealand does not tolerate violence towards our children. Why we tolerate weasel faced cretins is another matter entirely.
As a late middle aged American male, I have, as you have already correctly conjectured, mixed feelings on the subject. First, my childhood has already become myth and I can not be objective about the effects spanking , whipping, switching had upon me. That aside, I clearly recall that being smacked across the mouth for being a "smart ass" was humiliating, devastating, emotionally mortal woundings.
ReplyDeleteThe more I hear of others' experiences with hitting as a punishment, the more I believe that it's just plain and simply wrong! It's parenting at its laziest. All the more reason to break the cycle and make our world a better place :)
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