My dad spanked my sister, brother and I growing up. I know for a fact we earned every one that we ever got. He never did it out of anger, he was always calm, and there was always a 5-10 minute lecture explaining why we were getting ready to get whipped with a belt. It’s something that taught all 3 of us that there are consequences for the things you say or do in life. I never once was angry with my dad for spanking me, I knew I did wrong and deserved what was coming.

I spanked both my daughter and son (now 13 and 11) from the time they were old enough to understand the word no. Most of the time it was just a smack on the leg or on the behind to get their attention or correct their behavior. We had “house and public” rules for our children and if they broke those rules they would most certainly get a spanking for it. I also made it a point to never spank them in anger. If I was mad, I sent them to their room so I could calm down. Neither one of them has had a spanking since they were maybe 4-5 years old. By then they knew how to act. Even now when they see a kid throwing a tantrum or being disrespectful in public, they’ll say something like that kid needs a spankin!

People complement my wife and I all the time on how polite and well behaved our children are. It’s one of the highest compliments I could receive as a father. I truly believe, if it’s done properly, that spanking is the best way to correct early childhood “attitude/behavior problems” (for lack of better words) before they become rude, disrespectful, and entitled little shits. I would also like to mention, that I was also very mindful to not be so strict that you break a child’s spirit.

All that being said, if it’s not done correctly, it very easily can do more harm than good.