I'm of the opinion that spanking (or even hand smacking) has VERY limited usage. For instance your child is attempting to run away from you into the street, or reaching for an electrical cord and a simple "NO!" or "STOP" is going unheeded. Those two situations put a child for EXTREME risk of injury or death. Associating those things with a crack on the hand or pant-clad behind makes sense because had the child CONTINUED with the act it would cause pain, hence the child SHOULD associate that activity with pain and is LESS likely to do it again. Again these are EXTREME circumstances where severe injury could occur. Also, I don't think spanking after a chld enters first grade, at that point a child can be sufficently reasoned with and dangers explained to them are often understood.

My kids look so cute and sweet, it makes me not to spank them. If I did, they will cry. I knew I can't spank Aidan. He has autism and if I did, he will cry and do it back to me. I will dare not to spank my kids. I'll treat them well just like how Angelina Jolie treated her kids.

It is not a good idea to spank your kid just put up rules no hitting inside vioces only no running and rules you want ect.Just tell him/her that you will give them a good prize or buy them something if they behave well. Also buy a container with different prizes inside and make a chart for a whole week and when they behave well all week put a star on each box and they can choose what prize they want from the container you bought :)

God approves of using the rod to drive foolishness from a child. There is a difference between the rod of discipline, and hitting in anger. Spanking, done right, is not "hitting" a kid. It's much easier to choose not to spank. Those who chose that, chose easy.

Good behavior is not an innate charactistic of human beings. Behavior is learned, and we learn through our experiences. Through our experiences we learn how to do things, how NOT to do things, when to do things, and when NOT to do things, etc... In order for us to take something from an experience there must be a consequence or reward derived from the experience. I was spanked (not abused) when I was a child and I will do the same. This correctional stimuli is not meant to show the child that violence is the correct way to solve problems, but to instill the idea that actions have consequences. Behavior cannot be "explained" to a child until they have the cognitive development to grasp that concept. I have a two year old son. Although the phrase "Dont touch that....its hot", will curb his actions for the moment, I know that he will never truly understand what HOT means until he accidentally touches something that really is. At that point, "Dont touch that...it's hot", will take on an entirely different meaning for him. We naturally push our boundaries, it's human nature. We will push until it pushes back. That is how we learn our limits. For those of you who have found ways to teach your children effectively what they should and should not do without spanking, I commend you. But, do not judge me on how I intend to raise my child. And do not use research as your basis for telling me what I am doing wrong. I have done research, both qualitative and quantitative, and you have to realize that a researcher's perspective if only from the outside looking in and only for a specified amount of time. Learning is a life-long process. I wish you all well. One thing that I would like to point out.....This discussion thread is about reasons not to spank your children and to elicit good behavior in other ways. After reading through many of the post, I have noticed shouting, insults, and judgmental comments. How can we rightfully argue and good disciplinary practices if we can't behave ourselves?