My friend says I should smack my toddler

[TrixieLox]

My little girl is 16 months old and generally a good little girl. But when she's a bit naughty (e.g. smacking things into the TV, throwing things, biting when over-excited and harassing the dog), she doesn't listen at all, just giggles and continues whatever she's doing.

At the moment, as well as telling her no in a stern voice, I just remove the temptation - so take whatever she's throwing away, block her from the TV or pop dog in another room.

But my friend says I ought to give her a quick smack. I don't believe any kind of smacking is going to work. Are there any other methods I can use or should I just continue as I am, removing the 'temptation' and telling her off in a stern voice (I try not to shout at her and say 'no' alllll the time).

Or am I being 'too PC' as my friend says and give her a little smack on the hand or bum?!

Smack your friend every time she suggests this. She will soon learn to stop.

Which shows the complete illogical state of the law - hitting an adult (who is much more capable of defending themselves or avoiding it) is illegal. Hitting your own small child is legal! So stupid.

So smacking is legal. The fact that it is legal and parents can choose to do it says nothing about whether it is effective/counterproductive, any negative effects, or whether it is morally right. It just says that you won't be prosecuted for doing it.

Children learn by copying so you need to be a good role model and show her what to do. If you smack then she'll smack back - you or other children.

Distraction is fine. As is removing (or putting out of sight) the problem, or removing the child from the situation and giving them something else to do.

Also, remember to give plenty of attention for doing what you want - positive feedback. They want to please you and it helps if they know how to do this.

I wonder if it is a case of it being a tool worth retaining or just very difficult to police.

I just think it very sad to resort to smacking your own children. People who find smacking acceptable always seem to posit 'ineffective parenting' as the only other option. Both are extremes, there is a huge middle-ground, but smacking or doing nothing are the easy options that don't require you to expend any brain power.

a quick slap and lots of love

Jesus wept. Think I'll pass on the first thanks, as I do in all my other relationships.

Quite, Sootgremlin. If a woman (or man) came on here and posted about her partner who was loving 98% of the time but occasionally slapped her when she did something he didn't like, we'd all be telling her to LTB.

As for the law being debated and considered carefully... well, I'm not quite so optimistic about our politicians and the current political system. I think that keeping the right for parent to smack is more to do with it being hard to police, and not wanting to criminalize certain parents, rather than it being judged an effective tool.