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What’s Burning Wednesday: To smack or not to smack?

July 14, 2010 //  by Uju//  14 Comments


I was invited onto BBC London Live 94.9 FM radio the other day to air my views on The Children’s Society’s latest report about smacking.

According to the report, more than two-thirds of Britons think it’s okay to give their children a slap now and again. On the other hand, one-third of those questioned view smacking as a ‘high-risk’ activity.

The Children’s Society is calling on the government to ban smacking, in line with other European countries.

Radio host Eddie Nestor put me on the spot. I said it’s a discussion we should be having but a complete ban seems over the top. In my view, it’s out of touch with reality.

My early childhood was in Nigeria where it’s the norm for authority figures to set kids straight with anything from pulling you by the ear to giving your cheek a sharp back-hander.

Smacking is seen as a necessary form of discipline, ‘spare the rod, spoil the child’.

But in my generation, despite growing up under the shadow of the koboko (cane), many of us have a lighter-handed approach to raising our kids.

I can count the amount of times I’ve smacked both my kids on two fingers. Once was a finger on the palm, another a spank on the bum (in a more extreme situation). I have never, and never plan to, slapped my children across the face.

Fellow Nigerians have often laughed at my husband and I as we try to manage Ezra and Jed’s behaviour using words and reason. ‘You’re just blowing grammar!’ they say, like we’re wasting our breath.

Actually I don’t agree that parents should always negotiate with their teeny ones, especially when they’re at the age when direct action works better. We use the naughty step but even this has its limitations when dealing with a toddler who barely understands.

Most of the time, I try to use ‘positive distraction’ on Jed when he’s naughty, giving him something else he can focus on and receive praise for. For instance, if he hits his brother I’ll tell him, ‘That’s not nice Jed, can you show me something gentle?’ Sometimes it doesn’t work, but it’s amazing how often Jed will respond with a soft stroke instead of another wallop.

As I stated on the show, we need to have this conversation, as parents and as a society, because it’s a grey area. What starts with a light spank on a nappy-padded bum can lead to belts, whips and even worse as a child grows older.

But an outright ban? Parenting is hard enough without feeling like we’re being policed in our own homes. What we need is more support and tools to cope effectively under stress and to provide discipline that works.

Bottom line: I would never want to be the type of parent who resorts to smacking at the first sign of mischief. But I certainly wouldn’t want to be punished by law for using a light spank as a last resort.

Click on BBC iPlayer to hear me on BBC London Radio Drivetime with Eddie Nestor 94.9 FM (until Thur Jul 15)

Photos via The Children’s Society web site.

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Category: LifeTag: family, parenting

About Uju

Uju Asika is a writer, blogger and creative consultant. She is the author of Raising Boys Who Do Better: A Hopeful Guide for a New Generation (DK/Penguin Random House), Bringing Up Race: How to Raise a Kind Child in a Prejudiced World (Yellow Kite/Hachette UK) and the delightful picture book A World for Me and You, illustrated by Jennie Poh (Hachette Children's Group). Uju's books are available at Bookshop.org, Amazon, Waterstones and other good bookshops. Follow Uju @babesabouttown on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Maureen

    July 15, 2010 at 9:20 am

    If they have this ‘law’ when I was little then our prisons would be full of parents since I grew up with plenty of physical corporal punishments. You’re so spot on about “Parenting is hard enough without feeling like we’re being policed in our own homes. What we need is more support and tools to cope effectively under stress and to provide discipline that works.” Bravo! Very true and I agree with you although I don’t personally agree with smacking, I think there are other ways to discipline a child effectively such as time-outs, taking privileges away. Good article, lady! :D

  2. Uju

    July 15, 2010 at 10:24 am

    Hi Maureen, thanks and that made me laugh as I thought the prisons in Nigeria and many other parts of the world would be bursting with mums and dads too! Although frankly many parents go overboard and abuse their power over their kids and that really does need to be checked by law. Glad you appreciate the piece :-)

  3. citymouse

    July 15, 2010 at 10:48 am

    I agree with your bottom line. My children are older now but we did give them a few swats on their bottom from time to time. Obviously, control and reason are important. The thing I found most troublesome is that the government feels the need to legislate and monitor parenting. I live in the US, so I may have a different mindframe, but I do not think those things are the government’s purview.

  4. Uju

    July 15, 2010 at 12:49 pm

    City Mouse, you’re right, it’s the idea of the government deciding for parents before parents have even had a chance to really discuss and set their own parameters on this issue. But it’s a tricky balance as children are vulnerable in many situations and do need protection, sometimes even from their parents!

  5. Laurie

    July 17, 2010 at 10:04 am

    Well written. And I didn’t expect your level-headed and common sense answer. I agree with you on almost every point. However, I do know that in Honduas, child abuse is rampant. However, I don’t think it’s spanking, smacking, etc.Hondurans are very tolerant of their children. In fact, overly tolerant. They tend to be neglectful to an extreme, and some people are quick to abandon their children. Also, children are expected in many houses to work at young ages, and some parents don’t work after age 35 or so because that’s the job of the children. Very hard culture to change the patterns. And don’t even get me started on the sexual abuse of girls and boys.

  6. Uju

    July 17, 2010 at 10:17 am

    Hi Laurie, fascinating response. So interesting how different societies take on completely different approach to child rearing. And you’re right, so much is about cultural expectations. That’s one of the good things about mixing cultures, it does force us to take a look at our own ways of doing things and consider new paths. Thanks for your comments.

  7. nmaha

    July 17, 2010 at 12:18 pm

    Hi, thanks for visiting my blog. Am here to return the favour.

    I totally agree that “parenting is hard enough without feeling like we are being policed in our own homes”. Though I’m not for smacking, the occasional tap (not with the full force of our hands but with a finger or two) on a protected bum should be left to a parent’s discretion.

    Ultimately 90% of the world’s parents will lay down their life for their child, so I think the little ones are pretty safe.

  8. Anna

    July 17, 2010 at 12:54 pm

    I really appreciate your balanced discussion and your bottom line. Thanks. Hope SITS a great Saturday for you. I’m glad that there are some even handed people thinking through these issues in the public sphere.

  9. Uju

    July 17, 2010 at 1:21 pm

    Hi nmaha, that’s an excellent point that 90 percent of parents are ready to die for their kids. But for some that element of ‘I’ll do anything for you’ includes ‘I’ll do anything to keep you on the straight and narrow’ and that’s open to interpretation…even abuse! Great comment, thanks for coming by.

  10. Uju

    July 17, 2010 at 1:22 pm

    Hi Anna, thanks it’s nice to hear that I come across as balanced…most of the time I just feel confused! Even on this issue lol

  11. Mesina

    July 18, 2010 at 10:32 am

    Uju I couldn’t agree more with you! I don’t smack my children often either, in fact if I have ever done, it’s been the very last resort. It’s always on the bum and never the face or ever to intentionally hurt them. It’s not pain I’m trying to inflict more than shock and their attention. But like you, I can count on one hand how many times I’ve done it. There are so many extremes in parenting, from the abusers to the too softies who try to reason and give their children a voice in everything. My children are confident enough to express their opinions, but equally there are times where they are not offered a choice. They must learn the world does not always work their way, otherwise how would I be prepping them for the big world later? A total ban on smacking? I think not, lest we open ourselves to the debate of what denotes a smack. Trust me, everyone won’t be on the same page there.

  12. Uju

    July 18, 2010 at 11:36 am

    Excellently put, Mesina. I’m right there with you on every point (soul sister!) It really is about opening ourselves up to the debate and taking a long hard look at how we provide boundaries for our kids, rather than letting the government weigh in with its heavy hand.

  13. Jessica

    July 27, 2010 at 10:30 am

    One punishment does not fit all. ’nuff said.

    Popping in from SITS!

  14. Uju

    July 27, 2010 at 11:51 am

    Hi Jessica, too true and well put.

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I’m Uju, author, blogger, screenwriter. I curate cool finds and experiences for city families. Read more…

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