[WillowTheWhisp]

I agree with you Simon. I think they are worse and I can only see them deteriorating because we have the attitude you describe so well of "You can't punish me. You can't stop me. I've got my rights."

A child caught by the police vandalising simply laughs in their faces as he knows very well there is nothing they can do because he is only 8 years old.

I've just been heartbroken today reading an account in the paper by the mother of the 14 year old girl who was shot. I cannot begin to imagine the pain she is going through. What kind of a country do we live in where a 14 year old girl can be shot and killed? I have a daughter about the same age. I can relate to that.

We really must make a distinction between smacking and hitting as most people here seem to be able to do. Smacking is done with love and care (as in protecting the small child from the fire). Hitting is done out of anger. It is a totally diferent thing. Smacking is more gentle. Hitting is violent. I do not and never will advocate hitting a child or an adult but my children knew and know that the threat of a smack is there if they deserve it.

I remember a friend of mine looking up at her teenage son who was misbehaving and saying sternly "You're not too old for a smack bottom!" It did the trick. He was strong enough to have fought her had he so desired but the very thought of the humiliation of a smack on the bum was enough to deter him.

Please tell us a better way. How do you prevent the small child from burning himself? Yes you can steer him away but the moment your back is turned he'll try again. The smack on the wrist hurts a heck of a lot less then being burned.

I'm not into child abuse AT ALL but statistics show that we have a very real problem and it began to escalate with a change of attitude towards smacking.

It's hardly fair to blame parents when their children misbehave and then blame parents when they try to discipline them to prevent such behaviour.