Spanking has been shown to be most effective in 2- to 6-year-olds when used in conjunction with milder disciplinary methods, such as reasoning and time-outs.

You should be honest with yourself and everyone and start using the acronym SMAO.

I should try this method.

So far, when I want to get my kids' attention, I usually just look directly at them, speak directly to them, etc..

Works so far, but sooner or later that approach is going to fail. I need a backup plan.

Look directly at them, and speak directly to them...gee, what a novel concept. Congratulations if that is good enough to keep your boys in line 100% of the time. I have not heard of any other boys this was the case.

Are you all really such pussies that you never lay a hand on your kids?

This deserves a good Norcal style LOL!! LOL!! LOL!

My kids are 3.5. What are they going to do to merit my hitting them?

They misbehave, but I guess I never saw a point to hitting them when putting them in their crib or whatever worked just as well.

That's the point, some of us believe that certain behaviors merit a spanking. Seems like some of you want to equate a spanking to beating, which is ridiculous.

I don't equate spanking to beating. I lean towards thinking it's never appropriate, but I could also believe that there is place on rare occasion for it. I spanked my older kids a little but I've decided over time I don't want to do it and haven't done it with my younger kids.

But Norcal in your case I totally believe you're capable of beating your kids.

what is the goal of spanking? seems like what you are doing is puposefully causing physical and emotional pain. The primary caregiver, whom the child relies on to survive, strikes the child and lets the child know, "I give, I destroy."

Nice.

So we don't have to rehash this further:
http://www.dfwareamoms.com/forums/sh...light=spanking

Let's just experience this argument vicariously.