http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25529744

Fcuk off, say most parents.

I was half the height of a door by the time I was three years old and very aware of it!

I've never hit my children and never will.

I doubt a ban on smacking would have an effect on rates of child abuse.

Smacking is not child abuse.

End of!

Well that's a convincing argument.

Whilst I don't have a definitive position on the subject, it strikes me as odd that we have this activity that we'd never do to animals that we'd willingly do to children. I'm also struck by the fact that you'd never smack another adult, so why is it ok to smack a child.

We do much worse to animals, legally, all the time. And we treat children as different from adults ,legally, all the time.

NOTE: I am not in favour of hitting children. It's just that 'we shouldn't be able to hit children because we don't hit adults' is a ludicrous argument. It makes no more sense than saying "we shouldn't drink at home because we can't drink in a car'.

As a tool, it can be useful, if used sparingly. If it is a standard punishment for all misdemeanours, then it stops being effective and becomes more like abuse - the child won't learn.

My parents very rarely smacked me, when they did, I knew I had done something VERY wrong. It was a short, sharp shock and I learnt very quickly from it. But that was mainly because I'd get smacked at most once or twice in a year.

This, pretty much.

I've said this before - I haven't smacked either of my children, but I reserve the right to. Anyone who wants to tell me that I can't can eff right off.

I've smacked my eldest twice.
1) he was biting me.
2) he almost ran out onto a road.

I don't think I was ever smacked as a child. I turned out alright.

If I had a child I would never hit them no matter what. Just the same as I would never hit any other person.

Whether smacking is banned or not is kind of irrelevant though. If someone is the sort of person who will smack their child then they will always be that we no matter what.

i have found that the threat of a smack is far more powerful then the actual event as long as the child believes the action could/will happen ...

I don't use smacking as a threat at all. Like I said, is been a sudden reaction to an extreme circumstance.

Same, I have been smacked/slapped a handful of times in my life, and only for really serious stuff where I'd deserved it, last when I was about 17 for being rude to my mum.
I think in some extreme cases it's got its use

A threat of a smack only works if you're willing to follow it up.

The occasional smack (providing it's justified) doesn't harm anyone


EDIT: http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2013/12/29/ ... -children/