nspcc

[Flanker8]

I have just found out that the NSPCC is backing a total ban on smacking, and have therfore cancelled my monthly donation.

 

Anybody any ideas where my donation can go? I'm after a kids charity that benefits UK kids only.

 

I understand the need for legislation on abuse, and I'd rather avoid smacking if I can, but nobody is going to tell me that I can't discipline my child with a smack on the back of the hand/back of the legs if I see fit.

[ursula62]

Maybe Childline?  http://www.childline.org.uk/extra/christmastree.asp

[becks]

Or the nct? Or tommys, which is more babies and premature babies, i think what you've done is commendable, just for making the point - i wonder though, did you tell the nspcc why you were withdrawing your donations? Merry christmas by the way!

[Flanker8]

And to you - and yep, I have written - although no reply as yet: have also taken my NSPCC Christmas cards back and obtained a refund. 

[jimmer]

Apart from being a childrens charity that runs, amongst other things, holmes for abused children, the NSPCC also acts as a pressure group for childrens rights. Since they see a lot of abuse to children, their position is that children should have the same rights as adults. if i slapped you it would be common assult. Why shouldn't children have the same rights under the law?

 

jim

[DavidUK]

I wasn't aware of this stance by the NSPCC. Now that I know about it I will consider making a monthly donation to them. I am totally opposed to hitting children (or any other members of my family for that matter). I have two sons who have been brought up with discipline but without the fear of being on the receiving end of violence if they step out of line.

I believe that hitting children encourages them to think that this is the way to get someone smaller than them to do what they want (i.e. bullying). It is completely unnecessary to hit children. It is just a tradition as was, not so long, the acceptance of hitting wives or servants when they needed chastisement.

I couldn't imagine hitting my children any more than I could imagine hitting my wife. How strange that you could end up in court for hitting a burglar but not for hitting a tiny 2 year old child.

[GuavaHalf]

Demelza House, a children's hospice, is a very worthy cause.

http://www.demelzahouse.org/

[GuavaHalf]

a link that works!

http://www.demelzahouse.org

[GuavaHalf]

Agh! can't get the link to work properly. just delete the <p> at the end of the address.

sorry

[bradleyy]

You cancelled your donation because they want to ban smacking! How sad.  If you need to smack your child all the time I think you may want to step back and take a good look at your parenting skills.

[scrambler]

The latest poll shows that 88% of parents wish to retain the ultimate sanction, thank goodness. And no, we are not talking about 'assualt' or 'beating' and the argument about it leading to bullying is rubbish.Don't listen to the Liberal tree-hugging middle class vocal minority. Do what the majority knows is right!

[Flanker8]

scrambler - I have every intention of doing exactly as you say: referring to a mild physical chastisement as a last resort as 'abuse' or 'assault' as some people refer to it shows crass ignorance.

[Hgrove]

In addition to other suggestions, you could see whether your local hospital has a "Born too soon" club which helps premature babies.  Also, there was a charity which takes terminally ill children and their families on a once in a lifetime hol. but I can't remember the name at the moment.  Or your local school's Parent Teacher Association might be a charity (ours recently became one). 

[Flanker8]

A colleague has suggested the SCBU unit in the local hospital where my daughter was born - so have decided this is where its going to go.

[libertie]

While I think that the NSPCC do a great job, I feel that legislation may stop your average parent from smacking  his/her child, but unfortunately will do nothing to prevent children from suffering gross neglect and being battered. My own children were smacked occasionally, without any lasting effect (so they say)! and are now happy and well adjusted adults with small children of their own - who I'm quite sure will also recieve the occasional slap across the bottom!!

libertie

[bernardo]

I have just found out that the NSPCC is backing a total ban on smacking, and have therefore cancelled my monthly donation.

 

Your use of the word "therefore" is illogical.  A ban on smacking is exactly what the NSPCC exists for.  Smacking is assault.  Assault is a crime of violence.  Children should be protected from the crime of assault in the same way that adults are.

 

The latest poll shows that 88% of parents wish to retain the ultimate sanction, thank goodness

 

I am appalled if this is accurate.

 

And no, we are not talking about 'assualt' or 'beating'

 

Yes, that is exactly what you are talking about.  That is exactly, precisely and specifically what smacking is.

 

Don't listen to the Liberal tree-hugging middle class vocal minority

 

What has "tree-hugging" got to do with smacking?  Only a tiny minority of people hug trees.

 

Do what the majority knows is right!

 

What the majority knows is right is that assaulting people is illegal.

 

 

[bernardo]

(continued)

referring to a mild physical chastisement as a last resort as 'abuse' or 'assault' as some people refer to it shows crass ignorance.

 

My comments and views are not the product of ignorance, they are the product of having suffered many many years as a child having been regularly assaulted.  I was smacked as a child, and it never did me any good at all.  The only thing which it taught me was that I was being assaulted by someone bigger and stronger than me; in no way did I ever get the feeling that what I had done was "therefore" naughty or bad, because hitting someone is not an efficient and logical way of explaining such things.

 

Happy Christmas to jimmer and DavidUK, and

Bah Humbug to Flanker and scrambler.

[bernardo]

P.S.

nobody is going to tell me that I can't discipline [sic] my child with a smack on the back of the hand/back of the legs if I see fit.

 

On the contrary, the law will tell you that if Parliament has any sense.

[tracymort]

What really bugs me is that we appear to discriminate against children these days.  It's okay to smack a child but not an adult,  that would be assault!  it's ok to shut a baby in a room to cry for 3 hours despite the fact it can lead to mental health problems but if a husband did that to his wife she'd get a divorce.  We shout at toddlers for doing perfectly normal things like learning and being curious just because it's inconvenient and messes up our perfect homes.   We as a society need to learn to see things from a child's perspective.  Maybe then they will grow up securely, respect their parents and not get into trouble so much ! 

There's no need to smack a child, if they are too young to understand when you explain what was wrong with their behaviour then just use distraction.  I have 2 and manage perfectly well without smacking them.  How could i they are gorgeous!

[Oneeyedvic]

Why can't people relaise there is a big difference between hitting and smacking - and sorry Bernardo - smacking is not assault!

[Oneeyedvic]

Assault: noun 1 a violent attack. 2 Law an act that threatens physical harm to a person. 3 a concentrated attempt to do something difficult

Bernardo - if you think smacking is the same as 'a violent attack' then you are misrepresenting the word smack!

 

If you also think that you can reason with an 18 month old baby - congratulations.

 

A smack on the hand / backside is a 'reasonable' chastisement and is NOT illegal in this country thank heaven.

 

And yes we discriminate against children becasuse they are not adults and are not capable of making adult decisions - hence the reason they cannot vote, drink (in a pub) drive etc etc.

 

Do any of you 'do gooders' think that this discrimination is terrible as well, and that 5 year olds should be able to drive.....

 

And sorry Bernardo, I was also beaten as a child (some of you will know I am of Asian origin who discipline heavily). I was 'whipped' with the branches of a willow tree (but was fairly lucky as my brother had the belt - buckle end). Yes, this should be illegal it is assault - a violent attack. It is not smacking though - and this should not be banned.

 

I am slightly suprised as to twhy this is 'news' though. I withdrew my support fromthe NSPCC around 18 months ago!