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Where is Super Nanny when you really need her?

No-spank bill on way
By Mike Zapler
MediaNews Sacramento Bureau

SACRAMENTO - The state Legislature is about to weigh in on a question that stirs impassioned debate among moms and dads: Should parents spank their children?

Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, D-Mountain View, wants to outlaw spanking children up to 3 years old. If she succeeds, California would become the first state in the nation to explicitly ban parents from smacking their kids.

Making a swat on the behind a misdemeanor might seem a bit much for some -- and the chances of the idea becoming law appear slim, at best -- but Lieber begs to differ.

``I think it's pretty hard to argue you need to beat a child 3 years old or younger,'' Lieber said. ``Is it OK to whip a 1-year-old or a 6-month-old or a newborn?''

The bill, which is still being drafted, will be written broadly, she added, prohibiting ``any striking of a child, any corporal punishment, smacking, hitting, punching, any of that.'' Lieber said it would be a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail or a fine up to $1,000, although a legal expert advising her on the proposal said first-time offenders would probably only have to attend parenting classes.

The idea is encountering skepticism even before it's been formally introduced. Beyond the debate among child psychologists -- many of whom believe limited spanking can be effective -- the bill is sure to face questions over how practical it is to enforce and opposition from some legislators who generally oppose what they consider ``nanny government.''

Link:
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Although spanking a child under the age of 1 wouldnt IMHO seem to do anything..from the ages of 3+...let em rip.

Great, now the government want to legislate familial dicipline. I can't wait until they expand the bill to include grounding.

End result another generation with even less sense of consequences.

BTW, I've never spanked either of my kids, but the threat thereof has served to get their attention.

If spanking were to be made illegal…would the threat of spanking where therefor be made illegal also if it proposed an immediate threat? Hmm

What is the difference between a spanking and beating your child? Not that we need a bill to draw the line, but I wonder what the police definition would be. At what point do they say, "oh you're just disciplining your child" and at what point do they say, "you are beating your child".

I admit that I am a spanker. I try to do it as rarely as possibly such as the incident where my 3 year old daughter spiral slammed her cousin and then whacked him with a lacrosse stick. Most of the time discipline involves getting sent to the naughty step for 1 to 2 minutes. It's the second step from the bottom on the front staircase.

I was not spanked as a child.

Jenn and I do not spank.

We've found a rigorously enforced "time out" (on the step like Will mentioned), combined with a removal of attention from the misbehaving child to be effective.

It's a rule I was taught by a law partner of mine:

"Either you can be in control or the kids can be in control. It's your choice. And no amount of spanking will put you in control if you've already given it up"

But with that said, noone needs this law. There are already child protection laws on the books.

I agree with the in control or not in controll comment. But i also think there are many different appropriate ways to parent your children. There is a big difference between disciplene and abuse, and this law tries to make them the same.

Jolly roger wrote:

BTW, I've never spanked either of my kids, but the threat thereof has served to get their attention.

That won't last long.

Anyone ever see the Dog Whisperer on National Geographic. Well my dog trainer can't stand him and thinks he's insane. She uses only positive reinforcement.........Well that works for my dog (90 lb Rhodesian Ridgeback) most of the time. However, other times I have to give him the goon hand.....if you know what I mean!

DanGenck wrote:What is the difference between a spanking and beating your child? Not that we need a bill to draw the line, but I wonder what the police definition would be. At what point do they say, "oh you're just disciplining your child" and at what point do they say, "you are beating your child".

This is a good question. I am of the opinion that spanking is ok if done without injury. If the law is intended to stop child abuse, wouldn't that already be illegal? and where do you draw the line? My parents spanked me, sometimes with a belt. My teachers paddled me in middle school with big wooden paddles. My football coaches in high school paddled players in high school that cursed during practice or games. Never in any of those instances would I have thought it was abuse, even looking back on it now as an adult. Overall, I would say that the use of corporal punishment for me was effective at correcting my behavior. I guess the question should be, is spanking necessary? I feel that question should be left up to the parents of the child. I do not support corporal punishment in schools at any age though.

As a new parent, I have read some stuff on corporal punishment and I guess if I ever decided to use it, it would be as a last resort. The dog analogy is good in that positive reinforcement is always the best approach, but having fostered numerous dogs there is are circumstances where getting physical is appropriate. Granted kids aren't dogs but the methods for correcting behavior are very similar, especially at a young age. Our dog trainer uses "time outs" as a method for correcting behavior in dogs, simply locking the dog up in a room away from the "pack" for 20 minutes when they misbehave. Our pediatrician suggests a very similar approach, although not locking them in a room, but giving them a "time out" away from fun.

when it all comes down to it, even if its illegal or not its all decided on if the cops discretion and knowing that many cops have kids who act up and need discipline i doubt many people will be getting arrested for this. that said... gov't needs to stop getting in peoples lives so much.

also my dad spanked me one time so bad and i will always remeber it. He used that as a threat everytime i acted up and it worked. Something i will use when i have kids.

Rob Graff wrote:But with that said, noone needs this law. There are already child protection laws on the books.

Apparently the PC police have not read the law book.

spanking work wonders. And parents that have given a kid a good spanking...the memories of that spanking will deter future rule breaking. As the son of an Army officer, i can tell you, getting your back porch painted red can sure set a kid straight. Timeouts and taking away playstation games can only do so much.

Also, there is a diference btwn spanking and beating a child. I have been spanked, i have never been BEATEN. Beatings are an extreme....if you dad wacks you a few times on the bum that is not a beating. Having your dad hit you to inflict bodily harm, lets say a back hand slap across the face, ring hand of course, is a beating.

How is Cheney gonna keep ol' Georgey boy in line now?