Spare the rod - and you won't spoil the child. That's the message behind the NSPCC's new campaign to outlaw smacking by parents. Young journalists from Children's Express Sheffield give their views.
Sarah Choudhury, 16, Woodseats
When I see a child being smacked, my first thought is why? What can a child as young as three or four have done to warrant physical punishment? Thrown a tantrum because he or she was denied a highly desired bag of cheese and onion crisps?
Smacking has no effect whatsoever when you see the number of children who just hit back. Is this the way that Britain sees fit to raise its youngsters?
All it seems to be is a battle for power, which the adult always seems to win. What adult would smack a work colleague because they had done something that didn't fit smoothly into the scheme of things?
Tessa Robins, 16, Hathersage
I was never smacked as a child. I wasn't desperately rebellious anyway, but my parents would tell me off, or say you can't have sweets today, things like that. Violence was never threatened. Smacking makes you fearful of your parents. I grew up to respect them rather than be frightened of what they might do. Establishing trust is, I think, the main thing.
When I see children being smacked in the street or supermarkets it makes me shiver. I just want to pick up the child and take it away. Smacking is embarrassing and humiliating enough to a child, but to do it in a room full of people is even worse.
Most children, if you show them respect, will show respect in return. If you're taught at home that violence is acceptable, that violence is an everyday part of life, then things run in a circle, you'll do the same to your children.
Lucy Taylor, 15, Bradway
Basically, smacking is wrong. I can see sometimes why adults do smack, to use as a short, sharp shock, and to stop a child running wild, but I don't think it's right. With smacking, it is too difficult to draw a line between what is acceptable and what isn't.
A more effective punishment would be to be grounded, or pocket money stopped, to be stopped from doing something that you wanted to do.
I don't think that smacking children necessarily promotes violence. I don't think that such young people are going to go away and hit other children, but if smacking becomes a habit, violence will continue, and they'll smack their own children.
Rachel Walmsley, 15, Firth Park
Although smacking is a form of discipline, it doesn't really teach kids anything positive and they don't learn from it. Different forms of punishment would work better without the need for violence.
Ben Strutt, 14, Wincobank
Smacking children does not give them a right and positive impression of life. Hitting young people does not set a good example. It can affect them mentally so that when they're older and have kids they may turn out exactly the same as their parents.
I don't even agree with simply tapping a child. In many cases even a little tap can lead to a parent getting carried away and then just keep hitting and hitting. Simple levels can lead to extreme levels where a child is being abused on a regular basis.
Lucas Davison, 13, Killamarsh, and Oli Musselwhite, 13, Walkley
Neither of us has been smacked but we have seen children smacked in public, like supermarkets. It seems for some parents, at that moment, there's nothing else that they can do stop their kids screaming or whatever. You feel sorry for the kid, but also for the parents because they must be really embarrassed.
Smacking young people is not a way to solve problems. With younger children it might do the trick, but when they're older they just laugh it off. Smacking could emotionally damage them or stop them from trusting their parents. It might even make them think their parents aren't very good people.
Laura Smith, 14, Wincobank
Sometimes smacking does work. If a child's being really naughty then maybe a gentle smack would be suitable, but certainly not for minor things, and definitely not in public. I know of children who don't listen to their parents and do just exactly what they want because they think they can get away with it. A gentle smack at an early age can work, and I don't mean smacking constantly, and only when they've been really rude or obnoxious.
About the teamThis story was produced by journalists from the Sheffield bureau. It was published in the Sheffield Star.
