Abuse/Discipline what is your opinion?

Question

I suppose now a days there is a fine line between abuse and discipline. My mother used to wash our mouths out with soap or spank and now it is classified as abuse. My question to you, Do you think a spank on the bottom (i don't mean beating your kid black and blue, just a little spank), washing your child's mouth out with soap should be considered abuse or discipline. What is your take on all of this?

Answer 1

I spank my daughter a few swats on the behind that's it . I don't do the soap thing though my parents never did that with me I don't like that idea.I think people who think spanking is abuse need to be re educated on the subject.

Answer 2

NOT ABUSE, those are punishments/consequences not abuse.

In parenting it's best to use BOTH discipline, followed up with a consequence to correct bad behavior.

Answer 3

Well a spanking isn't so bad. [[but i do admit, it does hurt]] but washing your kids mouth out with soap I think should be considered as ABUSE. because it COULD poision them. i know this because my friend got soap poising. yah it sounds wierd but it can happen.

:]

Answer 4

I think it's appropriate discipline. Look back at how society was in our grandparents' time; people were more well behaved then. I think that the doing away with discipline such as that is directly linked to the corruptness of today's society.

Answer 5

I wouldn't call soap and spanking as abuse. I do remember both as a child. I think til thier 3 or 4 a small spank is okay. After that disciplining other ways is better. Soap is good, for when they have used their mouth the wrong way. I'd consider these discipline, it's not bad, just don't let it get carried away, which I''m sure you wouldn't.

Answer 6

I think we as a society have gone overboard with the parenting rules (and a lot of others). This is likely an attempt to make up for the lack of them in the past. I believe the rules are in the correct context but they only work because of the expectation of perfection on parents. Parents vary hugely in their skill  levels so controlled spankings should not be removed from their tool box.

Answer 7

I think a swat on the butt with a little child is not abuse.  Anything beyond that definitely is.

As far as the soap it should be considered abuse.  That is absolutely horrible.  If a child actually swallows much of the soap it could get diarrheaand other things.  

Children learn what they live, so if the soap is for bad words, try to shield your child from the language.  Tell them that word is bad and if they say it again, they will have to take a time out for ten minutes.

Answer 8

A spank on the bottom (or more in a really bad situation) or washing mouths out with soap is NOT abuse. If done "normally" (not excessive or with too much force) it is discipline.

Answer 9

i considered it discipline.

Answer 10

I don't think they are abuse, but I wouldn't wash my kid's mouth out with soap though. A spanking is a different story though. If they reach that point that I need to spank them, I will not hesitate.

Answer 11

I would consider both abuse

Answer 12

i think wash the mouth with soap is abuse. today there are other methods like no tv or game you know take a thing that they really like for a few days. Spank on a bottom softly one time i don't think so. but hard and more than that, yes it is abuse.

Answer 13

spare the rod-spoil the child. old time saying.

Answer 14

I don't spank but also don't think it's necessarily abuse. The soap is though. Maybe people "behaved" better in our grandparent's day but I wouldn't want to live in a society that is that repressed. Pretty sure my "place" isn't in the home and my husband shouldn't feel foolish for crying. Harsh, physical punishment may scare you into being good but it won't create a healthy child.

Answer 15

a spanking that leaves an older childs bottom sore for a day or two i dont classify as abuse ... washing mouths out with soap can be harmful and is abuse ...because if they swallow a little of it it can make them ill..

Answer 16

I don't spank at all and would also never do the soap/mouth thing.

I don't know if I would go as far as saying it is abuse, but it is definitely cruel, unnecessary and emotionally harmful to a child.

Answer 17

Washing the mouth out with soap and spanking is NOT abuse. It is good discipline. That is what is wrong with society today people do not properly discipline their children anymore. You can bet that my children will get their mouth washed out and spanked as they grow up if the situation calls for it.