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The Tokyo metropolitan government plans to introduce an ordinance against child abuse that will ban parents from using physical punishment as a means of discipline. What do you think of this proposal?

11 Comments

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Be more specific about 'physical punishment.' Is telling your kid to go to their room considered 'physical punishment'? They are physically going to their room. Telling your kids to do some tedious chore as punishment is also physical.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Be more specific about 'physical punishment.'

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporal_punishment

There's only one definition of physical punishment.

The Tokyo metropolitan government plans to introduce an ordinance against child abuse that will ban parents from using physical punishment as a means of discipline. What do you think of this proposal?

It depends on the content of the ordinance.

The biggest problem right now are that kids taken by social services are sent back almost immediately to abusing families, or that nothing more than a warning is given to violent parents. Unless this allows the kids to be taken to a safe place and really being taken care of, the end result will be the same. Fear of punishment doesn't seem to stop people from beating up their children.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I say they do a test run first. Spare the rod and spoil the child sometimes work but sometimes tough love is needed. A balance between these approaches is hard to attain and depend on each child.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Agree with the above. banning all physical punishment is a slippery slope.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Hitting anyone is bad.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I guess if you could banned it, you could charge abusive parents with more crimes when the truth comes out? I think it would only be a helpful prevention measure if it brought about more awareness/education on the issue which could help abusive parents realize what they're doing isn't normal or acceptable.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

About time.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I see the thinking behind the idea. Eliminating of excessive physical discipline that has resulted to injury or worse. This is a good thing.

However I don't think we should throw the baby out with the bathwater lest we eliminate a needed tool for child raising and wind up with spoiled brat kids who grow up entering society with no internal controls and fail as adults. As a dad of several kids and a former school teacher I've seen plenty of kids who need wisely administered physical discipline because that was all that they would respond to and deter them from hitting others, severe bullying, causing home and classroom mayhem, etc. I would suggest the following.

1: Help children develop self discipline by actively encouraging good behavior using praise and rewards.

Establish clear boundaries, in consultation with the child if old enough, and non physical consequences when rules are broken.

Mild corporal punishment for small children especially who willfully cross the line to commit major offenses when 1 and 2 have failed.

Only use corporal punishment as a last resort and temporarily until the child learns self control.

Clear govt guidelines for parents on what kinds of corporal punishment are acceptable and that abusive corporal punishment will not be tolerated.

If wisely and lovingly administered corporal punishment is needed and can help a child heading down the wrong track.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Huge difference between giving a naughty kid a smack on the bum and beating them around the head etc.

Nothing wrong with the former, if the kid has already been given enough warnings.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@Bintaro

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporal_punishment

There's only one definition of physical punishment.

"Corporal" means specifically "of the body" so "corporal punishment" means "punishing the body", i.e. hitting the body, which is more specific than "physical punishment." Making a child stand in the corner of the room on one leg for 15 minutes is physical punishment, not corporal punishment. That's why I said "be specific." And, like I've already said, making them do a tedious chore (shoveling snow, for example) is physical punishment, but not corporal punishment.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@Luddite

Hitting anyone is bad.

How about in self-defense?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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