This is from the THIS MORNING website
A controversial ITV1 documentary goes out tomorrow night called 'I smack and I'm proud' featuring parents who think just that. In conjunction with the programme they have released a survey revealing eighty per cent of parents support smacking as a punishment if necessary.
So is it acceptable to smack your kids? Today we will see the two sides of this debate, from Anjula Mutanda who believes it is 'not right' to smack a child and mum Anne Atkins who smacks her 3 year old daughter at least once a week.
The Statistics
ITV surveyed almost 2000 people to get the following results:
? Eight out of ten parents in Britain oppose smacking ban
? Seven of out ten parents (67%) smack their children
? 80% of adults without children believe in smacking and would smack their offspring if they thought it necessary.
? 64% of parents surveyed (and 73% of those who were non-parents) said that even if a ban was in place they would flout the law and smack their children regardless.
? The figures were highest in the 35-54 category where 74% of parents polled revealed that they either have in the past, or do currently smack their children.
? Eight out of ten people polled were smacked as children themselves, and as adults in today's society, 63% of parents and 74% of non-parents consider smacking to play an important role in the disciplining of children.
The Current Smacking Law
- The smacking law in England and Wales states that mild smacking is allowed but any smack which leaves a mark is illegal and could result in action. Many parents find this law confusing and in fact less than half of parents polled (43%) understood this law, with some even thinking that it was just illegal to smack their kids in public.
- Amid fresh calls for a smacking ban, most recently in Scotland, the survey has revealed that 82% of parents and 87% of non parents surveyed are against a complete ban. They firmly disagree with the government being able to control this aspect of family life.
- Most parents believe that they are able to decide themselves whether to use smacking as part of their discipline process, and, in backing this thought, 80% of parents (and 87% of non-parents) do not consider a light smack to be the same thing as hitting a child.
- A huge amount of people polled are concerned about the behaviour of young people on the streets and a whopping 73% of parents (and 78% of non-parents) think that a smacking ban would have a resulting negative effect on child discipline in our wider society.
Anne Atkins : Says Smacking is Acceptable
Anne says smacking and hitting is two different things in her opinion.
"All smacking is not wrong if used properly, I would never hit my child in an abusive way. I think there is a big difference. Children need to be disciplined, a quick smack will tell them that their behaviour is not accepted.
But they need incentives just as much as they need disincentives. In a way it doesn't particularly matter what those disincentives are provided they are there. Some chose to smack some don't.
Anjula Mutanda: Disagrees With Smacking
"It is harmful for a child to be in a routine of being smacked everytime they are naughty. One- they get confused about how love is expressed - if they think that their parents love them then why do they always smack me.
Two- if a child is routinely smacked then they will think that this is the norm and that's when they will start hitting their parents back and hitting out on others simply because this is their norm. It is inevitably teaching your child that violence is acceptable.?
ITV Documentary
'I Smack and I'm Proud' explores the controversial issue of smacking by featuring five families who do smack their children alongside experts and parents from both sides of the debate. Taken on a journey through the documentary, some of the parents confront their discipline techniques to look at whether they are effective alternatives to smacking for their families.
'I Smack and I'm Proud' - Thursday 21 September 9pm ITV1
