parenting

[fishing81]

Just watched our next door neighbour go down the road in their car only to return a minute later pull up outside our house and his wife who had been sitting in the back seat get out go to the house and fetch their seven year old son who then made a feeble attempt to open the rear door and then use his fist to bang on the door,I pressume he wanted to sit in the front as he and his older sister argue who gets the front seat.Now in my day his backside would have had a little slap but what is the present situation now all you young parents what would you have done

[B00]

They left their 7 year old alone? Did they forget him?

[daffy654]

I wouldn't let a 7 year old sit in the front of the car at all.

[B00]

Mine does Daffy, if she's with just her dad, however if im also going with them, she's relegated to the back seat.

[GrantA]

I would be more concerned that they left a 7 year old alone in the house.

My daughter knows that she sits in her car seat in the back as this is the best place for her and there are no arguments whenever she goes into the car, the parents should explain why they need to sit in the back etc.

[fishing81]

Knowing them they were teaching him a lesson that he wasn't going to get his own way

[annie0000]

I don't see the problem - yes they left him in the house, fishing says it was literally a minute, he's 7 not a toddler and probably spent that minute stamping his feet by the front door - don't know if it will stop the tantrums, but my iew is that it takes two to tango so they'd both be in trouble.

If they are inclined to fight in the car then it is safer to have one in the front to split them up.

[Kassee]

There are lots of punishments you can use on children without "a slap on the backside". You're not going swimming, cubs, football, or anything else he enjoys. Behave or you are not going this week. Behave or its up to bed straight after tea.

A slap on the backside or anywhere else just teaches them, its OK to slap anyone when we dont like something. So next time their friend says something they dont like in the playground - slap him.

[NOX]

I'm not a 'young parent' but I wouldn't slap a child it simply teaches them that you can make peiople do things by hitting them. None of my kids have ever pulled anything like this because although there were no formal rules in our house, there was an understanding of politeness and what was and wasn't desireable- a simple cause and effect if you like and a respect that the car belonged to me or their mother. It's not hard to rear a child without hitting them, I really can't see why people feel the need to and to wax all nostalgic about the good old days when kids got belted for everything.

[mcmelon]

I feel that leaving a child, even briefly, as punishement is wrong. Think about the message that conveys. No child should be hit. Ever. Just because it was what was done in 'our day' does not make it right. Again, consider the message. x

[joko]

slap him? what for? for wanting to sit in the grown up seat? all kids want lots of things they cant have...why smack them for it?

[Cowtipper]

Can a parent can teach a child right from wrong without ever examining when it is acceptable to hit someone? I think its acceptable for a parent to spank a child. I was beaten as a child and I know the difference between a cuff and a fist. Your child will grow out of being a child in less than 16 years. If Tommy pops Bobby in the head then deal with the issue that exists and not on "what might" happen.