Sir, – With the news ("Reilly moves to ban parents slapping children", October 19th) that reasonable chastisement is to be removed as a defence for hitting your children, we hear the usual chorus of "It's just a little slap" and "Sure it never did me any harm."
I used to share this mindset until one day, during a stressful episode with my child who was being bold, I gave her that “little slap” on the arm, to which she replied defiantly, “That didn’t hurt.”
I was furious, but as I drew back my hand to rectify the situation I checked myself and walked away.
I realised at that moment that what I had been about to do had absolutely nothing to do with changing the behaviour of the child and everything to do with my rising anger.
On further reflection, I realised the utter folly of the “little slap”.
This form of discipline is only effective when it hurts, and the more it hurts the more effective it will be.
I now realise that those who still champion the “little slap” can only be using it as a palatable euphemism for physically hurting the child. Otherwise, what’s the point?
As for the chant of “Sure it did me no harm”, I would argue that it did do immense harm to both the individual and society; it instilled the notion that physically hurting your children is reasonable and acceptable behaviour. – Yours, etc,
SEAN SMITH,
Navan,
Co Meath.