To Spank or not to Spank, that is the Question

To spank or not to spank.

According to a study published in the journal Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, nearly “80 percent of kids are spanked at least once by fifth grade.”

What Is Spanking?

What is spanking? Spanking is the act of striking a child’s buttocks with an open hand, a belt, or paddling with an object. Spanking with a bare hand is the most common form of spanking and a belt follows as the second most common. Anti-spanking advocates go as far as to say that a tap on the hand of a child reaching for something hot can be considered a form of spanking.

What spanking is not?

Spanking is not child abuse. Spanking is not a form of physical abuse but a form of discipline.

Most anti-spanking advocates compare spanking to child abuse. Certainly there are those who cross the line when spanking, one current example involves Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. To paint every parent who disciplines their child as a child abuser would be unfair.

How is a parent supposed to resist spanking when high profile mothers admit to spanking their children. Both First Lady’s Michelle Obama and Laura Bush admitted to spanking their daughters — a democrat and a republican respectively.

What’s that! Both parties have pro-spanking advocates.

Why do we spank?

In my opinion we spank in order to instil discipline. But why SPANKING?

Spanking is the most effective way to get a child’s attention who otherwise would ignore their parents.

Now, if a child listen’s to their parents that’s great; no need to spank. But how many children really listen to their parents at all times? How many children act like angels outside of their parent’s eyes? If a spanking is done correctly then very few spankings will be needed.

My parents spanked me and my brothers and we turned out fine. My parents didn’t play games either when it came to spankings. We thought — at one time — that we could act up in…