did your parents smack you? Do you smack your child?

[diamond702]

My dad used to smack me as a child, on the hand or bottom. I remember feeling scared and anxious about it, and I don't think it taught me right from wrong. I would usually get smacked for being annoying or loud rather than naughty things. He would do it to make me be quiet.

I think times have changed now (this was in the 90s) and maybe it's not as acceptable to smack children anymore. I don't believe it works. I can understand perhaps smacking a child's hand to stop them touching a hot oven or something, but otherwise, does it really make them grow up to be well behaved citizens?

I can't imagine smacking my child. Surely there are better ways to discipline?

Yeah I got a smack on the back of the legs from my mum occasionally.

I haven’t smacked my son but if he put himself in harms way I’d be tempted to give him a tap on he bottom

Yes. And no.

There are far better ways. Even the hot stove one. DD used to try to touch it. I got a Fireman to talk to her. She never went near it again.

Smacking is a sign that the parent has lost control.

Also, it sets a terrible example - hit people if they do something you disagree with.

We weren't hit as children but my dad threatened to in a very scary way which terrified me. I still feel angry at him for this.

Born in the 60's and yes I was smacked.

No I don't smack my children apart from the occasional issue with ASD son where (when younger) he did something so dangerous and I'd whacked a magazine out of his hand when he was trying to set light to it on the lit gas cooker.

I used to get smacked a lot as a child, hand, skipper, stick...
I would never smack my children, I was very fearful of getting a smack and I don't want my kids to be scared of me.

Yes
No

Yes - I think I was smacked a total of three times. I remember being shocked and thinking that I must have been really, really bad! But I don't remember any lasting upset.

That said, I know that my parents regret smacking me and never smacked my younger sister. And I would never smack my kids even though some days I can sympathise with how my parents must have been feeling when they smacked me!

I was born in the 60s and I was never smacked.

I have never smacked my children either.

I used to get a "good hiding". I've never done that to my kids. I don't see what it achieves.

I used to get a smack if I put myself in danger - run into the road, or do something dangerous if my parents told me not to. To be honest it did stick with me and I didn’t do those things again. They were very loving generally and I think it was always such a shock when it did happen and I would know it was serious.

I don’t smack my kids, they are only young, but I have wondered if I would do it if they repeatedly did something dangerous and didn’t listen to me. I would rather give them a short sharp shock than them get hit by a car.

Yes we were smacked on the back of the legs when we were exceptionally naughty... but it was few and far between.

It didn't do us any harm, but I have 2 under 2 myself now and couldn't imagine ever smacking them.

I was smacked as a child. I don't smack my children.

I certainly don't remember feeling anxious. I actually can't pin point a time I was smacked. I just know it was the consequence.

I don't smack my children because I have been brought up in a time where it's pretty obvious it's not needed. I certainly don't worry that it happened when I was younger.

Yes they did and no I don't.

My mum thinks I should smack my autistic child so I ignore all her advice.

Yes and not a chance. I remember my Dad grabbing me in such a rage once he fell back and broke a chair shudders

He tried to do it to DD2 once and I didn't speak to him for nearly 6 months.

It would assault if you did it to a stranger on the street so i don't understand how its OK to do it to your gran/child(ren)

In the 60's a smack was the norm for bad behaviour.
We knew right from wrong and expected and accepted our punishment for being naughty.
Never did us any harm.
I have only ever slapped one of my children, on the bottom, once.

Yes.

And no, never. It’s the one and only thing I’m adamant about. It’s taking significant therapy to contact to terms with feeling useless and guilty of many, many things.

Yes I was smacked. "If you don't stop crying I'll give you something to cry for."

No, I don't smack. I never ever would. Deep down I remember those smacks and they hurt more than just a physical hurt. There's no excuse. Ever.

does it really make them grow up to be well behaved citizens?

Did you grow up to be a well behaved citizen?

I was smacked and probably deserved it!
Animals swipe at their off spring as a warning and sometimes it can be an instinctive reaction - rather than a control reaction

I don't agree with snaking but them some children don't know when to stop.

I was smacked, hit, belted. It’s assault. It’s illegal. No I don’t.

I was born in the seventies and want smacked, and haven't smacked my children. There's no need, and I think the only lesson it really teaches is that is ok to hit people.

Yes I was smacked, a lot. I don’t have children but I wouldn’t smack them if I did.

I was smacked. Did it do me any harm? Yes it did.

I was never smacked as a child and would never smack my own child. There is no justification for it in my opinion. No matter how unreasonable I was being it would never be considered acceptable for DH to hit me, even if he didn't do it hard enough to hurt or leave a mark. So why on earth do people think it's acceptable for an adult to smack a child?

I was smacked in the 80s, only with a hand on the bum or back of legs. I'd have to be really quite naughty but it wasn't that infrequent! I think most people were then, weren't they?

No, I don't smack. I fail to see how you can raise a child not to hit others and then hit them yourself! Plus, no matter how naughty mine are I cannot imagine hurting them, ever.

I was never smacked and neither DH or I have ever smacked our DC’s. Smacking is a loss of control, achieves nothing and imo poor parenting.