Yes, and it is quite effective. I just had the 6 year old beg me to spank him last week...it was worse for him to have to sit for 10 minutes and miss a chunk of the TV show he wanted to watch than the beatings his biological father doles out! (We do 10 minutes because it takes M at least that long to cool down. And C will be 9 in September anyway...if you don't treat each of them exactly the same then you have to lisen to them kvetch and whine that "IT'S NOT FAIR!!")

My old academic advisor was a great father and an amazing Psychology Professor. While he did say spanking was highly effective when used prooperly. You simply stick to operant conditioning. Reasoing with a child doesn't work until they are about 10. Stick with rewards and punishments.

As for me, I am sticking to a good pat on the butt.

Spanking is very effective when used properly and done calmly and in love. As a Bible believing Christian we do believe spanking can sometimes be necessary. But even more than the type of discipline you use is what you are teaching about why
the behavior is occurring. I don't punish my children, I discipline them and not just with methods but we are trying to teach them about the choices they are making in that behavior and what their response according to the Bible should be. For instance, little girl whines when she wants things or is upset sometimes. We use Phillippians 2:14 as something we are trying to teach her, "Do everything without complaining and arguing". Why? Because we should be respindeing in kindness and love, not with whinning. Love is not rude (I Cor 13) and whinning is rude, so ifyou love someone than whinning should not be a behavior you exibhit towards that person...and it even works with my 3 year old.
I hope parents remember it's not just what methods you choose to use, but trainging your children WHY we are to behave in certain ways, not just because mom or dad said so (although that is important too!!)

@IamKelleyK@xanga - amen! It is consistency indeed! 

@mrsprosa@xanga - I didn't say anything else regarding religion, so don't turn this into a religious debate.  If you must know, I agreed that spanking done calmly and in love is effective and I really didn't read much else of what she said.  And yes, I would rebel against a dictator who would tell us how to raise our children and what we can and cannot do because that person would be next to Hitler and that way would not be Godly.  I'd rather please God than please man.

@IamKelleyK@xanga - LOL - Before you get your grannies in a bunch, it was just a question. In no way meant to be offensive, but apparently it was for you.

P.S. How is the Government like Hitler if they intervene with child abuse?

@mrsprosa@xanga - My grannies huh?  How old are you?

Secondly, do you even have anything to add to the conversation or are you just being nit-picky toward the responses of others?  Oh, being nit-picky, I understand.

Thirdly, spanking does not equate child abuse.  My response was in regards to the statement in the original post: "Spanking also just may land you in court...."  A government that dictates how children are to disciplined, taking the example of California, is a government of power and control.  If you know your history about Hitler, which I doubt according to your question, you would know why that is a bad thing.

But I guess that's just my "bunched grannies" speaking.  Classic...

@HawaiianHeldts@xanga - Exactly.

@IamKelleyK@xanga - 100%. It amazes me that people want ANY government involved with raising their children. You can certainly abuse anything. I've heard horrible stories about people locking their children in closets as forms of punishment. Should we also outlaw closets?

@mrsprosa@xanga - My tone?  I answered your question.  Your preception of my tone is just that - a perception.  And I apologize - I did not know that Mamaladybug is you. 

And I agree that in some homes, children need outsiders to protect them.  But that is the exception, not the rule.  It's an unfortunate exception that I wish never happened, but that does not mean that every parent should be subject to laws that are meant to prevent such cases of abuse. 

I definitely think that time-outs can be extremely effective. I don't think spanking is ineffective though. It needs to be administered properly. It also depends on the kid. I lived in fear of spankings....one spanking and I would NEVER do whatever had gotten me in trouble again. My brother on the other hand, they didn't phase him at all. And my parents weren't rough at all, but...we were different kids.

My son isn't due for five more weeks....we will probably use a mixture of spankings and time-outs as discipline.

I have not tried the time-outs yet.  My son is only 17 months old and I feel he's too young for that.  If he's getting into something he's not supposed to I just tell him no and pull him away from the situation.  Sometimes he'll end up going right back but then I distract him by showing him something or telling him to play with toys.  I don't believe in spanking at this age but I'm not against spanking when he's older.  I'm in total agreement with HawaiianHeldts@xanga

@mrsprosa@xanga - I'm sorry for your past abuse. I mean no sarcasm there - I truly am sorry that you were abused. No one should have to go through any amount of abuse - physical, sexual, emotional, or otherwise.

But you sound educated enough to realize that your past abuse isn't indicative of every single parent who spanks. You spanked your child to give him/her a reminder that running in the street is dangerous! So surely you can admit that spanking is STILL okay...abuse, however, is not. I hate that all spanking is being thrown in with abuse in a lot of 'parenting advise' circles. There is a huge difference between spanking in love to discipline children and warn them about things that can hurt them...and beating a child for spilled milk. It is incredible to me that good parents who spank are referred to with the same level of disgust as child-beaters. (I realize that this may not be what you were implying.)