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From: german@uiucuxc.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.kids
Subject: Re: "Spanking"
Message-ID: <31400014@uiucuxc.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 30-Jan-85 14:02:00 EST
Article-I.D.: uiucuxc.31400014
Posted: Wed Jan 30 14:02:00 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 2-Feb-85 00:13:10 EST
References: <3349@alice.UUCP>
Lines: 32
Nf-ID: #R:alice:-334900:uiucuxc:31400014:000:1821
Nf-From: uiucuxc!german    Jan 30 13:02:00 1985



It is obvious that you feel very strongly on this subject, but I for one
have to disagree with your conclusion that there is never a need to spank.

Many of your "quoted" excuses are indeed bad reasons for doing anything,
but there is no way I would want to live in a society where I was watched
so closely that I could never do anything in my own home without some other
person questioning every action which he/she considers improper, even if it
is for the safety of the children.

I am the father of a 2 year old and speak from my experience, that as much
as I do not like to spank there are times when I have judged it was the
best way to communicate with her.  So far I have noticed 3 stages of
development for Sarah each with different needs for discipline.  In the
first stage 0-6 months we figured she only cried when she needed something
and (usually food, dry clothes, or love) and just tried to meet her needs.
Between 6-18 months she started roam around and understand some of what
was said (she would go the the bedroom and get a requested item long before
she started using the word for the item herself).  It is during this stage
that I felt compelled to spank Sarah.  In her explorations she would often
want to do something dangerous (stoves, electrical outlets, etc.) and
sometimes "NO!  Don't put your finger in that." wouldn't do it.  This is when
I would give her a swat and explain to her that she didn't understand that
it might hurt her and that she could not play with it.  Now in the third 
stage 18-26 months Sarah is able to tell me what is wrong and let me know
that she really wants to do something even if I tell her not to.  In this
stage she rarely persists at trying something dangerous when explained to
her and thus rarely needs the swat.
				Greg German
				uiucudcs!uiucuxc!german