by BG Torres

Created on: July 07, 2008

Children need love and they need direction and in some cases that could be a smack. To smack can take on many different meanings, depending on who you are talking to. To me, smacking pertains to striking across the face. A child should never be struck across the face no matter the situation. The face is who they are. To be struck across the face is demeaning in that it is an assault on their very being. It tells them that they are so insignificant that not even their face is sacred.

If smacking means to swat, or lightly slap across the buttocks, hand or thigh, then I agree. I align myself with a form of parenting called "wait and see" by this I mean you can't submit to a form of discipline until you know your child. One child's time out is another's severe beating. No child should ever, be beat. But often times a light smack is the only way to get through to a child. Marks should never be left on a child's skin, ever. A swat or smack should be just hard to enough to draw the childs attention.

Children are tiny dictators, ready to lead a rebellion at any moment. As a parent or guardian it is our job to lead them in the right direction. A light smack will not leave permanent damage as many would believe, instead it does quite the opposite, it can lead to a respectable child that understands the concept of "no". I am quite honestly sick and tired of hearing or seeing a child act out only to have the parent reward the behavior with a bribe rather than taking charge and being the parent. Sometimes being the parent means enforcing discipline and sometimes that discipline means a well place swat or smack to an exposed thigh.

As I pointed out before, not all children respond to swatting or smacking so if the first few times to do not result in a desired affect then do not proceed any further, try to find another avenue. Swatting should never be used as a first phase of discipline either. Reasoning with a toddler or young child can be difficult at best but is the first place to start, only as a last resort should anyone turn to swatting.

Contrary to belief, a child will not harbor ill will, or run off and tell Oprah of how horrible their life was, instead the child might realize that mom or dad actually mean business and that the idle threats are idle no more. I do not condone beating or spanking with a belt, but a light correction when needed never hurt anyone.

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