noodle

I don't believe in smacking, really.
I think that a swift pop with an open hand on the back of a child's hand to get their attention when they are about to do something that will cause bodily injury is acceptable once in awhile. For example, reaching for a hot iron, fingers towards a socket. It's more for shock value and to associate discomfort with the action, rather than punishment. I have found in working with kids that spanking is quite ineffective these days. I got better results by making an 8 year old sit in a chair in time out for eight minutes without touching the floor (started over each time he did) than his grandmother did in 5 years of spanking him for his behavior. Every time I see it happen, I want to yell, "Use your words!" at the parent. Then again, it pisses me off when parents or adults start lecturing three year olds in a manner that is way above them and then get mad when they don't respond how they want them to. "you are embarrassing me, we do not choose to tolerate this behavior in our family so you'd better choose some other way to respond." really lady? Tell tell the kid what he's doing wrong or you can't get mad when they don't change. I think that's how smacking comes about... frustration that a kid isn't acting like an adult or responding to adult words.

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