Child buttock-battering for the purpose of gaining compliance is nothing more than an inherited bad habit.

Its a good idea for people to take a look at what they are doing, and learn how to DISCIPLINE instead of hit.

I think the reason why television shows like “Supernanny” and “Dr. Phil” are so popular is because that is precisely what many (not all) people are trying to do.

There are several reasons why child bottom-slapping isn’t a good idea. Here are some good, quick reads recommended by professionals:

Plain Talk About Spanking
by Jordan Riak,

The Sexual Dangers of Spanking Children
by Tom Johnson,

NO VITAL ORGANS THERE So They Say
by Lesli Taylor M.D. and Adah Maurer Ph.D.

Most compelling of all reasons to abandon this worst of all bad habits is the fact that buttock-battering can be unintentional sexual abuse for some children. There is an abundance of educational resources, testimony, documentation, etc available on the subject that can easily be found by doing a little research with the recommended reads-visit http://www.nospank.net

Just a handful of those helping to raise awareness of why child bottom-slapping isn’t a good idea:

American Academy of Pediatrics,
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,
Center For Effective Discipline,
PsycHealth Ltd Behavioral Health Professionals,
Churches’ Network For Non-Violence,
Nobel Peace Prize recipient Archbishop Desmond Tutu,
Parenting In Jesus’ Footsteps,
Global Initiative To End All Corporal Punishment of Children,
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

In 26 countries, child corporal punishment is prohibited by law (with more in process). In fact, the US was the only UN member that did not ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Mothers who spank their children should also not mind being slapped by their husbands either when their husband feels they’ve done something wrong, or when he feels angry at them about something.

Hitting children is wrong and there is no justification for it whatsoever. Parents should use logic to bring up their children and not emotions and hitting. End of story.

But still… look at me. I’m not a tyrant. I love my kids more than anything in the world and I treat them with an incredible amount of respect. I do believe in free will, and I chose to break that cycle. I believe everyone has that choice.

I just think that people who beat their kids are a whole different breed of person than someone who has once-upon-a-time resorted to swatting. And if someone is looking for an excuse to start beating their kids, none of this will matter to them. Of course, this was only MY experience with it.

@ phdinparenting: There is a VAST difference between kids being spanked and kids getting the sh** kicked out of them. If statistics show that more criminals were “spanked,” it is far more likely that they were beaten as children and not merely disciplined with a swat on the behind when no other option worked.

So, it’s pure “luck” that not 90% of people are rapists and felons? That math is ludicrous. That whole statement is hilariously bias. That particular study doesn’t call out the difference between an occasional swat because a parent is at he end of their rope, or ongoing physical abuse. I think there is a massive difference between the two.

It’s like those people who tout breastfeeding as the cure-all and say it will make your kid smarter. Come on. I’m a lactivist and even I know that’s not true. If we’re real about it, then people will be more likely to listen.

This is great topic… and I’m glad you brought it up. It’s helpful to hear about other parent’s styles of discipline. I don’t think any of us have it 100% figured out.