Anti Smacking Law - What is your view?
By bigfelah
@bigfelah (73)
New Zealand
February 28, 2007 7:47pm CST
New Zealanders are facing a review of our anti-smacking law. Specifically a politician would like the part which says "parents may use reasonable and appropriate force where the child is engaging in actions endangering themselves and others" to "no physical contact/action whatsoever". I have 3 unruly boys out of 6 children and I am by no means an abuser but heaven help me if this ammendment comes to pass. It is the very fact that I rarely discipline my children by force that they are sometimes not afraid to be at there naughtiest. I utilise reprimands, time out and withdrawing privileges as my main means of discipline and punishment. But there are times where the child is so set on continuing their extremely bad behaviour that I need to take a harder line. Given our bad record of child abuse I can understand why this is up for review but the actions of the few will impact upon the larger majority of good caring parents.
2 responses
@silvermoonmyst (943)
• United States
1 Mar 07
I feel for you, i really do. I have one son who is a handful and ive had to spank his hand a time or two. But it would really get to me if i wasnt able to touch him at all. Ive seen children who are so violent that they hit their parents, or they have to be physically held down till they calm... how would this law play into that? The child is attacking you and you cant hold his arms down? Thats what im gathering from it... Thats scarry. Really scarry.
I live in america and they are starting to talk about passing laws that say similer things here..
I like the idea that it makes punishments for child abusers much more harsh, But i dont abuse my child. Even so every now and then he does do things that are harmful to himself and others...
I dont even know how to respond.... Is just a frightning prospect that when a child is hurting someone else, or acting dangerously that you cant even hold them down.... No physical contact whatsoever.... Honestly..whats next, not being allowed to touch our children ever?
@bigfelah (73)
• New Zealand
1 Mar 07
Exactly! They should concentrate on harsher punishment for the guilty abusers and yes I do mean the ones that hit their heads or use kettle cords etc. I'm strictly open palm to the buttocks or if severe then open palm to the legs because it stings but is temporary. Most importantly, like I said its not my main means of punishment but I should have that optiion. Coming from experience, its sometimes your only option for them to stop and take stock of their actions.
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
1 Mar 07
I don't believe in any kind of violence, physical or verbal. I don't believe in spanking or yelling. There are better ways of letting a child know that he or she is misbehaving.
@bigfelah (73)
• New Zealand
1 Mar 07
Like what??? Ive tried them all, some work some don't. I don't believe my reprimands, and if behaviour is severe a smack, is violent or abusive. In fact, there are times I catch my lads grinning as they run off afterwards. If they do I change to another method when they commit the same offence.
