I'm astonished that so many people are in favour of...

[emkana]

... smacking

Diva - I didn't now people could go voluntarily - I thought they were kind of forced on people.

What were they like? I kind of think I could use them too actually...do you have to live in a Sure Start area to be able to go? There's a Sure Start near where I work, but I don't live within the area.

Are they worth going to?

I witnessed a mum smacking her child across the head the other day.
I smack as a last resort.

Red - I think that's really dangerous - it can cause ear and brain injury. Our poor DS has suffered from terrible ear problems and his little ears are so precious . I think people outside the UK routinely waht across the head though

Someone said earlier on this thread something about "the bottom line on smacking" - sounded like a pun

whack, not waht

I agree fatfox.

God, if I saw someone whack a child around the head I think I really might call the police. I had it done to me quite frequently and I can remember the sort of stunned, unreal feeling, split-second black-out and then a sort of disorientating nausea. IMO that really is assault.

greensleaves, that's horrible, you poor thing

I was on the bus when it happened, believe me if I could of jumped of that bus I would of done, it was in the town centre, lots of people about, so hopefully she was reported.
I am not against smacking as that was the way I was raised, as I do it as last resort.

Red - I'm not against smacking as such, as long as its controlled and is merely a sting on the back of the leg/bottom. I use it occasionally, in extreme circumstances and after three warnings. I get really upset when I see people really whacking their children, or screaming obscenities at them. I suppose that was probably how they were brought up though

fatfox-the parenting course was fun,i sat there listening to other peoples' problems with their nkids and thought how great mine were in comparison(although they prob thought the same about some of the things i said about mine)and we watched videos and read worksheets and stuff,just learning that certain things we might consider 'naughty' were just normal behaviour for that age child and stuff like that.we also did a bit of relaxation and assertiveness training(which really helped me to learn that screaming at my kids like my mum did to me wasnt going to get me anywhere).sure start dont run them anymore where i live,i think nch took over,but they were open to everyone even if u didnt live in a sure start area.
i know that there are parenting classes run by social services that parents are forced to go to,i think they are totally different though.they probably are really patronising and horrible

Diva - I think things like those classes should be more widely available to people. They sound fun and quite useful too.