I dont think its the worst thing and sometimes they are so out of line a swat on the butt will put em back in check. However, for my kids a swat usually means they hate me for the rest of the day and I lose their respect and confidence. The best thing I have found for mine, 4, 9, 13 yr olds, is that I take away things from them - like t.v. internet, phone, trips out with grandma, etc. They miss their things and get better quick.

Spanking isnt hitting, but ask your child if you hit them after you spanked them and the answer is yes. It is yes to them both physically and mentally.

I will swat my kids on the behind now and then. it is not hittling in a abusive way. and they will not hate you for it, the ywill turn outto be respectful caring adults who know that theyare not the only onesin the world and that their parents loved them enough to set limits,. you have to do what you choose to do as a parent with your children' if theswat thingsmakes you feel bad then stop, but as I said before it is not the same as beating a child. I have worked in that area and their is a diference,

I just bumped an ongoing discussion post on spanking... check out some of the responses.

its so hard to figure this one out, so many good points on both sides of this fence. I agree that there is a difference between abuse and dicipline, I do not think the Government has any business in any of it though, yes...ABUSE should be illegal and punishable by the max! but the line between abuse and spanking seems to have gotten lost? I am not totally opposed to it, but I really do try NOT to give out swats... its really only in extreme cases when she is out of control and can not even hear me.. otherwise, I use time outs.. I also just ordered the book "Positive Discipline" so I am looking forward to reading that, the last think I want to do.. is make my child fear me, but then again..I was spanked..the old fashioned way! and I came out okay!?

I think its good. I give my kids a swat if they hurt someone and dont seem to notice how it affected them. No empathy or apology.

I think it is ok to spank your child.Some things I let things go but if they keep doing it spanking works alot better than timeout for my kids.They do get mad for awhile but it is not long before they are hugging you.

I do spank. I give warnings and if she doesn't stop after the third time then I swat her bum. I don't do it hard and only 1 time. If the children are hurting one another that is a different story because I have seen my youngest look at my middle child and deliberately hurt him. You can tell by the look on her face when or right before she does it that it was on purpose. Then she gets a spanking.

By definition, that's spanking. Now you can ask whether spanking is OK or not, and how much and how hard...

"its really only in extreme cases when she is out of control and can not even hear me"

I see... As a way of getting their attention. I've recently started just holding my daughter firmly until she settles down, and decides to look at me. Can take forever (5-10min), but I prefer it to hitting many times over. You can't make kids listen when they don't want to, but you can wait them out. :)

Try going back to the drawing board, as they say. I was very close to starting thinking about possibly toying with the idea of maybe spanking... But in the end, it was totally unnecessary and I am so glad I did not.

The most important advice is never, ever, let them get you annoyed/angry/desperate. (easier said than done) Be feeling-neutral when you discipline.

My 3 1/2 year old get sspanked on occasion, but afterards, my husband and I make sure he understands WHY he just got spanked. It has worked for us and I dont' see any problem with it.

I think it's ok as long as you don't go over board. My daughter can get out of control and sometimes. My baby always take me back under her wing. once we agree with what needs to be done. Good luck.