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Home Page > News > Third of Irish parents want right to smack their children

Third of Irish parents want right to smack their children

By
DONAL THORNTON,
Published Tuesday, June 29, 2010, 8:45 AM
Updated Tuesday, June 29, 2010, 7:45 PM

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Parents Stories feature...Child Abuse, Familes, Slapping, spanking, abusing, hitting children, child beating, punishment, violence, agression, hurting. Picture by Roger Bamber: 26 August 2004: Roger Bamber 34 Sillwood Road Brighton BN1 2LE Tel: 01273 730130 Mob: 07860 381255


A state funded survey has revealed that a third of Irish parents believe they should have the right to smack their children.

The study, Parenting Styles and Discipline: Parent's and Chidren's Perspectives, was funded by the Minister for Children's office.

It found that 25% of respondents hit their children in the previous year and fathers were more inclined to support the legal smacking of children.

However 42% of parents believe that smacking should be outlawed, but a majority of respondents are unsure if a complete ban should be introduced.

Respondents believe that a ban should be age sensitive with kids aged below five years and over 10 years exempt from being physically punished.

Over 60% of respondents believed that smacking was not necessary to rear a well behaved child but 59.5% said that parents should have the right to smack a child if they so wished.

Director of Services for the ISPCC, Caroline O'Sullivan, said she knew why parents did not support a full smacking ban.

"I feel that when parents are asked a direct question, like should it be banned completely, their automatic response would be no because they may have been slapped themselves as children and there is the emotional link with their own parents, who weren’t abusive towards them," she said.

"I think this report is really positive. Parents have been incredibly honest when asked about how they discipline their children and are open to looking at other options besides physical punishment."

The Government promised to ban corporal punishment in 2005 but have failed to commit to their promise.

Children respondents believe that smacking stopped bad or dangerous behaviour but had no long term positive effects.

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13 Comments

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IrishGirlyGirl | Mar 16, 2011, 07:39 PM EDT
Slapping on the face is something I wouldn't do, but a little smack on the bottom is fine, as long as you don't do it all the time.

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plasticpaddy | Oct 28, 2010, 06:06 PM EDT
Pauline - had your dad dealt with my brothers and I as children, or had you I don't think you would have such a rosey and non-pragmatic view of disciplining your child, as opposed to actual abuse. A smack on the bottom is not abusive.

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shidoobe | Sep 03, 2010, 10:00 AM EDT
I have hit my kid ONCE in her 10 years, on her bum when she was 2 and that was that, she behaves, we talk and all is well, but some parents NEED to smack their kids. "Spare the rod and spoil the child" --- Proverbs 13-24

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Watereskhill | Jul 02, 2010, 02:19 AM EDT
The Irish school system was more cruel with it's canes than any smack on the rump I got at home as a toddler. That was more a shove in the right direction with "C'mon now. Stop it" than the stinging hands and split ear that were daily possibilities in those desks. The eldest of eight I saw first-hand how my parents ushered us with paternal care. And at eight years old in school saw boys my age ten and eleven thrashed with the somatology of a pit bull. Nor did yours truly escape the stick.

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Paulinebyrne | Jun 30, 2010, 11:46 PM EDT
I think smacking children is disgusting. My father never raised his hand to us once in his lifetime and there were six of us. As a result of my fathers example I have never raised my hand to my 5 children. Hitting children is abusive, there is no other name for it. I remember the old Spare the rod and spoil the child routine. I think the adult in the relationship should be able to figure it out, be creative and not give in to the easy quick solution. Children are people too and should have strong rights to protect them from bullies.

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LilPaddy | Jun 30, 2010, 11:13 PM EDT
Boy oh Boy; as a 1943 kimmage Dub. I was agreeing with the majority of the sincere input comments... And then I came to the FREE ADVERTISING posted by XIYANGYANG..... (which has been appearing for all of this year....) YET, WHEN I TRY TO POST A STORY ABOUT ABUSE TO ME AT DAINGEAN IN 1960....I.C. WILL NOT POST IT.... Just who is managing what is posted here?? Non believers..call me 951-264-7103 And... what Laura Wilson posted... is so on the mark! It's just so true!! If they don't learn at home, They Will learn in prison; AND THEN ALL OF US TAXPAYORS WILL PAY! Just where is 'Liberal Ass' Niall O'Dowd on this one?? Go ahead... Do it,,,,, ask Him!

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Laura Wilson | Jun 30, 2010, 08:25 PM EDT
Our generation was spanked and in comparrision to the new & up and comming kids who get a time out what a big differance, Kids today are so Un rulie & parents let them run a muck!! next stop prison Hmm, ???

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missspook1994 | Jun 30, 2010, 05:35 PM EDT
Children want dicipline from their parents even if they don't know it. A swat on the behind every once in a while when they are growing and learning lets the child know he is loved and his parent's care what he does or does not do. Today's children do not respect their parents or their elders in far too many cases.

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Searlit | Jun 30, 2010, 10:15 AM EDT
It's possible to be a goody two shoes and still be hit with a belt and extension cord just because people are in a bad mood, or a minor violation of their 'rules' has taken place. I think it's people like this who the ban would be aimed at, people who otherwise think of themselves as law-abiding, God-fearing citizens. Violence causes harm to anyone who uses it, as well as to anyone who suffers it.

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JasonQuinn | Jun 30, 2010, 06:04 AM EDT
Yeah, the picture is stupid. A little slap does no harm. The description of "a little slap" as corporal punishment is sensationalist as well.

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irishwxman | Jun 30, 2010, 12:22 AM EDT
I love how that picture makes it look so ominous. My parents hit me, and I hit my kids. There is nothing wrong with corporal punishment.

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