Smack kids or send them to the naughty step?
It is the controversial argument that has divided parents for decades, but has today resurfaced as Wales moved a step closer to banning the punishment method.
The Welsh Government has published a bill that could legally ban parents from smacking their children, and removes the common law defence of reasonable punishment which is currently available to parental figures if accused of assault or battery against a child.
Metro.co.uk spoke to parents who are both for and against the proposed legislation.
Mum-of-four, Sally Gobbett, of Cardiff, believes that sometimes light physical punishment is the only way young children – without a developed sense of understanding or speech – can comprehend their wrongdoing.
She told Metro.co.uk: A light smack is immediately understood and it prevents the long drawn out battle of wills.
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The full-time mum, who used to work in paediatrics, said although the family prefers to talk things through, she believes a tap prevents the repetition of dangerous behaviour.
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Sally, whose kids are three, five, seven and 10, said the Government report noted that any form of discipline in excess is harmful but she believes physical punishment becomes an intrusion of personal space with children older than five.
She added: A tap on the hand or bottom when they are repeatedly undoing their seatbelt or running into the road – doing something dangerous – is the kindest way, especially with younger ages.
Its a better way to communicate that mums in charge and I need to keep you safe.
Its categorically different from violence, where there is an intention to harm.
Meanwhile, mum-of-three Dr Pragya Agarwal, told Metro.co.uk she never has and never will hit either her 21-year-old or her twin daughters, 2, because it sends a message that the only way to get your way is by violence.
She said: I believe that there are other compassionate ways and when children act out, there are always other deep-rooted problems that are not being addressed, or they might just be tired, exhausted, hungry and so on.
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I believe that talking and showing love and affection works better than smacking.
The consultant, writer and speaker called it a temporary solution that creates fear and mistrust, while teaching kids that hitting someone smaller and weaker is okay.
But Ashley Frawley, a mother-of-two, of Swansea, believes the bill will take attention away from real child abuse cases and good parents who use the punishment could be unfairly prosecuted.
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The senior lecturer of sociology and social policy at Swansea University told Metro.co.uk: I think its [the bill] ridiculous and its trespassing into family life which only causes worse problems.
Itll capture every day families and not help the the children who really need it.
Ashley, mum to a two-year-old and a 10-month old, says although smacking isnt really her style, her 18-month daughter once tried to stick a fork in an electric socket, to which her husband raced across the room and whacked it out her hand.
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She added: If anyone saw that, he wouldve been jailed – it was dangerous and that was his natural instinct.
But it was a light smack and she hasnt done it since.
She claims research doesnt prove that light smacking is damaging to children and believes the ban is being driven by a trendy movement called positive parenting, in which parents dont like any punishment at all.
Anything more than transient reddening of the skin is child abuse, which means a smack on the back of a hand is – thats nonsense.
We have lowered the bar for what constitutes child abuse and the more we do, the more it allows state intervention into families.
This law is driven by a deep distrust of parents.
Mum-of-one Anja Heilmann, a public health epidemiologist at UCL, told Metro.co.uk that research does prove smacking can cause moRead More – Source
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