NZ anti child smacking laws

[Mrs Behavin]

Family First - New Zealand.... defending the family

A Government minister was last night accused of smacking one of his children at a shopping mall.
The Family First NZ lobby group, which campaigned against anti-smacking laws, accused cabinet minister David Cunliffe of smacking one of his children at Lynnmall shopping centre in Auckland.
Bob McCoskrie, national director of Family First NZ, said it had been contacted by a reliable informant who had witnessed Cunliffe smacking one of his children.
McCoskrie said the child was being corrected for hitting another child. "The smack on the hand was reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances. It appears that Mr Cunliffe was acting as any good parent would in the same circumstances."
Cunliffe, the minister of immigration and communications, last night told the Herald on Sunday: "My 2-year-old was pulling at a little girl. I pulled his hand away and calmly told him not to do that. If Families First cared about families, they would not be dragging the small children of MPs into a public debate like this."
McCroskie said that under the new anti-smacking law - supported by Cunliffe - a smack was now illegal and if a complaint was made to the police by a member of the public or the child it would have to be investigated.
Under the law, said McCroskie, the event would be recorded by police and forwarded to the family violence co-ordinator.

 

[Keight]

Thats Bullshit!

Children need punishment and what was good for us and for previous generations should be good enough for our own. I believe that if a child does something wrong that deserves a smack then they get one but in the same sense i do think some parents can go too far. I do not smack my eldest child anymore when he is trouble as i believe he is too old and i can take things off him to prove my point and punish him sometimes even worse than what a smack can do.
In my opinion Its a form of discipline and raising a child. In the same sense though because of this story i will not smack my children in public cause of what the fear from people who dob in a smacker can do.

 

[All Else Failed]

I've never been a fan of capital punishment in any form....all it does it foster hatred and contempt in the individual being punished.

 

[icecuban]

Thats Bullshit!

Children need punishment and what was good for us and for previous generations should be good enough for our own. I believe that if a child does something wrong that deserves a smack then they get one but in the same sense i do think some parents can go too far. I do not smack my eldest child anymore when he is trouble as i believe he is too old and i can take things off him to prove my point and punish him sometimes even worse than what a smack can do.
In my opinion Its a form of discipline and raising a child. In the same sense though because of this story i will not smack my children in public cause of what the fear from people who dob in a smacker can do.

i guess its a matter of how you were raised. my parents had the smack down on them plenty, all the time from the stories they tell. but they never put a hand on me, i mean, i did get in trouble from time to time, who doesnt, but i was corrected, and now i wouldnt lay a hand on either sex in violence. i agree with all else, violence breeds violence. if we see someone do wrong, and violence is how we were taught, we will be inclined to bring violence to the wrong doer because we think that is the best course of action to teach a lesson. but all it seems to do is stem the violence for a bit, only to have it come back with renewed fervor. i would like to see the percentage of people who grew up with parents who smacked and see how many turned out to be non-violent types, compared to those who werent hit.

 

[GraceAbounds]

There are several countries with 'no spanking' laws. I did a research paper for school. Surprisingly enough the countries with 'no spanking laws' saw no difference in the child abuse reported or caught in their country. In other words outlawing spanking didn't lower child abuse.

Spanking as discipline will deter the child at the moment. It will not however have lasting effects of correcting the child. So when in the grocery store, after you have asked your child to stop touching things that do not belong to them and they have not complied, smacking their hand will deter them in the short term. But for long term deterrence or obedience spanking will not work. You need to communicate with the child, explain natural consequences, and let your kids know how proud of them and how much you love them when they obey and behave.

What children want most in the world is the approval of their parents. Give it to them and they will strive to do even more to make you pleased with them.

 

[JuJu]

There are several countries with 'no spanking' laws. I did a research paper for school. Surprisingly enough the countries with 'no spanking laws' saw no difference in the child abuse reported or caught in their country. In other words outlawing spanking didn't lower child abuse.

Spanking as discipline will deter the child at the moment. It will not however have lasting effects of correcting the child. So when in the grocery store, after you have asked your child to stop touching things that do not belong to them and they have not complied, smacking their hand will deter them in the short term. But for long term deterrence or obedience spanking will not work. You need to communicate with the child, explain natural consequences, and let your kids know how proud of them and how much you love them when they obey and behave.

What children want most in the world is the approval of their parents. Give it to them and they will strive to do even more to make you pleased with them.

I love to see someone pass on education, it does make it available to all if one cannot attend due to what ever reasons.
What you say is so very true, we all like approval from our peers.
And parental approval of children is most important when the parents are educated whether it stems from formal or informal education, makes for a better future, eh?

 

[GraceAbounds]

God wants us to be a blessing to others. You are so right JuJu, we should pass on our experiences, no matter how embarrassing, if we learned a life lesson from them. We should pass on our unbiased research to inform others out of love.

Welcome to the forums by the way.