One thing definitely different among cultures in the U.S including Blacks, whites, Asians, Hispanics and other minorities, is the parental method for disciplining children. The going stereotype is that whites are the least group to use spanking as a discipline whereas Blacks and Hispanics are known to spank and whip their children religiously [no pun intended]. Asians are known for using practical forms of discipline which involves some physical and some mental techniques, but overall, the majority of parents, regardless of what race or culture, belief spanking is more effective.

According to the poll below more parents believe in spanking when nothing else works or when they have simply had enough. Only small percentages believe that spanking does not work and would never use this method. So why has there been laws passed to make spanking your child a type of social crime? Because most of the people who pass these laws and vote for these laws probably have no children and lead miserable lives.

Choice		Votes		Out of 9669 Votes
No, never. 	897		9%
Rarely.		1643		17%
Sometimes.	3692		38%
Yes.		3437		36%

The reason spanking is more effective than say "time-out" or withholding child favorites or confining them to the house is because spanking comes from deep within the heart of the parent and not from the mind per se. If you think too long and hard before laying your strap to the butt, you probably will not. But if you are driven by a natural parental instinct, the first thing - the gut reaction - usually brings out the belt.

However, some factors come into play when a parent considers spanking the child, such as the child's age, the severity of the child's behavior, and the persistence of that behavior.

Child's Age
There are certain ages that spanking and whippings are more effective on children. When a child is old enough to know what he or she is doing, say 2-4, then they are old enough to know what not to do. Spanking at this age is the best time because the parent established boundaries and set limits on the child's behavior. This is also a good time to teach the child manners and politeness.

When the child reaches 7-10, they need whippings, not spankings. Every now and then a child at this age will do things to try the attention span of the parent and to test them as to what they can get away with. They can be sneaky, manipulative, and attempt to undermine the parent's intelligence by establishing themselves a loop-hold in the child-parent relationship. When the parent realizes what the child is up to, it is a good idea to attempt to change the child's behavior without physical punishment but with firm warnings, then when they take advantage of the situation, the belt should come out. If you began spanking your child at the ripe ages, you will find that you will not have to spank them at the next age level as often, maybe once or twice.

When children reach the teen years, spanking are no more, whippings should not be, but instead a mature and reasonable conversational level should have been established. If the child is unruly in teenage years it is probably because there was no early physical discipline. Parents who find they have tried everything from spankings to whippings to talking and punishments and the child remains a problem, they tend to give up on the child and not look at themselves as a possible cause.

Severity of the Behavior
"If you neglect to discipline your child you can believe that the police will do it. The police can beat and kill your child for not obeying their command, and that is "in the line of duty". If for no other reason than to save their life there is a need for spankings at times." (Quote from author of survey).

Parents who find their children involved in criminal acts at young ages should seriously consider their surroundings and their own lifestyles. Some children begin stealing as young as 8 and 9, not bubblegum from the grocery store checkout counter, but friend's toys, school property, and games and videos from department stores. For these crimes, the judicial system will easily consider that child a juvenile offender and recommend juvenile sentencing. Not very often do they call the parents and let the child go.

When children reach teen years possessing this mindset, they are headed for more troubles. Peer pressure is harder for them to escape and they have something to offer in the way of advice for their friends who also steal and do other illegal things.

Many single mothers face such situations and feel they have tried everything and have nowhere else to turn. But they do. They can go to family members or close friends and positive role models in the community for support. They can seek out fatherly and motherly type figures for their child if that part of the child's life has been lacking. Many times children are acting out of frustration of an empty void gone unfilled.

If things are more than the parent can handle, the parent should consult a professional for that child and for themselves. If the frustrations build too high and are suppressed too deep it could lead to abuse of the child or even neglect. Never allow your feelings of anger and frustration to dictate how you discipline your child and never discipline your child from feelings of anger and frustration.

Persistence of Behavior
If a child is young and begins a strange habit or abnormal behavior of a disciplinary sort that a parent feels should not be rewarded with spanking, then professional help should be sought. If the child continues to show signs of behavioral problems throughout into the adolescence stage but seems normal in all other areas of behavior, then spanking may be an option.

Continued disciplinary problems should not go unpunished because they never do in real life. If a person (an adult) is considered a repeat offender they are sentenced to longer terms in prison. A child who continuously acts out should be disciplined at some point to show them that they cannot do whatever they want and get away, especially if the child is treating other children and siblings wrong. They must learn to behave and showing them that there is always someone in life bigger and badder than them will bring them down to reality and prepare them for real life.

When children continue to show bad behavior, this is a good time not to spare the rod. Children are sweet and loving beings but they can be manipulative and they do have sense enough to know when their parent(s) are wimps. They will use this knowledge to control the parent and to get away with anything they want, and this is not a good public relations skill for real life.

© 2003 by C.R. Hamilton