The smacking debate.

There’s been a lot of debate in the newspapers during recent times about smacking. And it seems a lot of people are in favour of it…

So this email may upset a few people.

But here’s what I’ve noticed: if you look at those “super nanny” shows, the nanny manages to make virtually every family happier and the children more disciplined…

WITHOUT SMACKING

In my own experience, I have never smacked my son. And he is a good boy – full of the joy and wonder of life as a young child should be.

Here’s what I’ve seen: children want to be loved by their parents. They want to do the right thing in most cases. And verbal discipline is powerful enough.

The children I see who are undisciplined are the ones who have their parents “rouse” on them every now and then… but allow them to get away with whatever they want “in between” times.

The child learns: I can be bad… if I can get away with it.

The key is consistency.

And in my opinion, smacking may have been a “last stop” disciplinary measure decades ago when we didn’t have the knowledge we have today.

But in today’s age… it’s just a lazy way to fix the problem.

Like punching someone in the head at a bar because he’s made you angry… rather than dealing with your anger and learning the interpersonal skills to handle conflict.

Or trying to “hard sell” and “pressure” your way into making a sale…

Rather than learning how to attract the right type of prospective customers with effective advertising and then nurturing and educating them until they really want to buy what you are selling.

The “hard sell” is like the “smack” in business. It might occasionally get a customer over the line.

But you’ll end up with a resentful customer who doesn’t like or trust you.

The key is taking the time to learn a better way of doing things…

And having the discipline to follow through on what you learn.

So there it is… my opinion on the smacking debate.