NZMummy
01-13-2008, 04:51 PM
Last year a law was passed in New Zealand that made spanking illegal. This was largely in response to the current child abuse statistics in this country. However, it can be argued that this will do little to stop those who would be abusing their kids and simply has the effect of making good parents completely paranoid. As a family we use a method of timeout rather than spanking for discipline - but I am sure that a lot of parents could relate to the following man:
http://www.stuff.co.nz:80/4354765a10.html
I think that this is just getting out of hand. The current climate means that good parents are nervous when they have to take their kids to the doctor with an injury (such as a normal childhood fall) because they know that they will be interrogated and suspected. My daughter is at that age where she is learning to climb and walk (as well as having tantrums where she bangs her head on things) - so I guess some injuries are inevitable. The current climate also means that members of the general public are more likely to feel entitled to comment on the way you are relating to your child when you are out and about.
Most parents are doing a great job and dearly love their children - I feel that these parents are being terrorised by a law that is just not going to stop those who it is meant to.
BTW there was huge opposition to this law before it was passed - the current government just doesn't seem to listen to the people.
http://www.stuff.co.nz:80/4354765a10.html
I think that this is just getting out of hand. The current climate means that good parents are nervous when they have to take their kids to the doctor with an injury (such as a normal childhood fall) because they know that they will be interrogated and suspected. My daughter is at that age where she is learning to climb and walk (as well as having tantrums where she bangs her head on things) - so I guess some injuries are inevitable. The current climate also means that members of the general public are more likely to feel entitled to comment on the way you are relating to your child when you are out and about.
Most parents are doing a great job and dearly love their children - I feel that these parents are being terrorised by a law that is just not going to stop those who it is meant to.
BTW there was huge opposition to this law before it was passed - the current government just doesn't seem to listen to the people.