Discussion Board: The Smacking Bill (Repeal of Section 59)

This bill worries me. Whilst no one condones beating children to death or even injuring them, surely there is a place for occasionally lightly smacking a child on the back of the hand or on the fleshy part of the bottom? How do we make that OK under the law, without opening the door to all sorts of other abuse? We all know that the New Zealand record for child abuse is dreadful by worldwide standards, but will changing this law actually make a difference? Wouldn't it be better to address the causes of abuse rather than the symptoms?

I have to agree. Although I can count on one hand the number of times I have given my now 5 year old a light smack, I do not believe that most people abuse smacking as a deterant. My daughter got a smack from me the second time I caught her drawing on the car with a large stone. Telling off and explaining the reason why not to do this didn't work the first time. But believe me she didn't draw on the car again. I do not believe you should hurt a child, but a tap lets them know if it is used very rarely.

I also agree that there is a huge difference between smacking a child and bashing.. I hate that term, but that is quite frankly what is happening to kids these days. I've been having nightmares about sad cases like little Chris and Cru... I just wonder sometimes if we spent more time supporting young families we would see their cries for help even if it's not obivous. As a young fist time mum I can see how difficult life can be when it all gets turned upside down. Luckily I have a very supportive husband and family so that makes life easier. But places where smoking, drinking and abuse is a part of life need to be watched and they need constant support to stop stuff like that happening.

I think this bill si stupid. I give my girl the odd tap on the bottom (only ever on the bottom) but thats if she is so incredibly naughty that she jsut wont listen otherwise. I do use timeout more often, but I still think the odd tap is fine. I used to get smacked when I was younger, and I remember every smack my parents gave me and what I got them for, and my sister and I were well behaved and respectful children. My parents only ever smacked us on the bottom with a ahnd, and that was it, and I can say it never hurt either. I ahve seen so many incredibly naughty children around these days, and seen paretns just saying oh no no no dear that was naughty, and the kids basically laughing at them. My daughter is naughty, but she is only 15months olds, and she is always well behaved in public and only ever acts up when at home. So we are very lucky.

I see this as an over the top intervention in our lives brought about by the global decline in community standards/cohesion. My children are probably well past the age where physical discipline would make a difference (and they'e angels really) but I resent the right being taken from me.

What does smacking do to most children? It either gives them brief pain and then they know where they stand, or, it has no effect whatsoever, the child appears unphased, and some even have a laugh at the parent who has just smacked them. And usually, the parent gets to feel very guilty at having inflicted pain on their own child. I feel that it is necessary in some ways but certainly not on a hand, head or by the ears. The bottom is probably the most common and cushioned area to do so, but it is actually giving the child more attention. So, how are parents monitered, if they smack their child in their own home? That is the question, I guess parents simply have to agree on what they feel is ok.

I've recently been in the position where this act was used against me. Put in the wrong context and in the wrong hands its a lethal weapon that could've destroyed my family. I was brought up in the seventies, and I don't recall having to be spanked by my mother until about the age of 10. I'm not sure if it was damaging or not to be spanked either, I guess that's something I'm trying to figure out. I don't condone spanking your children, but after what I just experienced you don't stand much of a chance against the system. I suggest that if you are smacking your children soft or slightly harder have at least some knowledge of what the act is about and what it contains. I have joined this site to help myself, my son and my husband to understand how the community behaves and how it can help us. Thank you all for your experiences.

Vanessa, may I offer you a little sympathy or perhaps its empathy, for having this act used against you. Having experienced similar myself, I understand what you are saying, and it should not happen, but it does for whatever reason, there is no excuse for it when it does. I admire you sharing your experience. May you find a way to avoid it at all costs. The very fact that you have joined this site is a way to reach out to people and not be alone. My warmest regards to you.

Has this repeal already happened or is there a date for it to be repealed ? This type of nanny state rubbish is not the answer to the real problem, it just makes criminals of everyone else...

I have five children and have tried various methods of discipline. I do use th occassional smack on my children especiaaly in the early learnign years. while time out worked well with my elder daughter it did nothing to deter her twin brother. For a child who needs strict boundaries i would say my third child would be the one that needed more disciplne - and to this date feels that urge to push and push. My two younger daughters have needed the least of all with time out working for both of them. My son who is now 13 watches the news has taken the news and run with it - telling all his siblings that we are no longer aloud to smack them. Introducin the smacking bill will NOT address the issue of child abuse but will turn us ordinary parents into law breakers. Who determines what force is able to be used to remove a child from a harmful situation. Is the parent that bites the habitual child biter to show them that it hurts going to be classed as a child abuser??? Where will it end!!!

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