Toddler Dicipline

In our modern day philosophy on parenting spanking is ruled out. However, the bible rules otherwise. I am not a fan of the the What To Expect website for various reasons both mainstream and biblical. Many of the mothers who put their input into the forums on the site have a liberal attitude towards Christianity and who Christ is. Simply knowing this is disturbing because the What To Expect books are popular on our bookstore and library shelves.

Personally, a person who loves a child will discipline him or her. There is a very clear difference between spanking and abuse. Spanking is used as a means of correction, kind of like moving cattle or sheep.....ya need to give them a little swat on the rear to get them to move in the direction you would like. Abuse is intentionally hurting without any means or purpose to the hurting of the innocent victim. When a child is young his verbal spectrum has not yet fully developed so it will be difficult for him or her to understand verbal discipline.....thus a physical means needs to be relayed to him or her.

However, there is a problem with spanking in public. Those who don't agree with it may see it as abuse. For example a child may be acting up in a store and the mother may decide she needs to spank her child to get him to calm down. One of two options can be used.....bring the child to an area where no one is visible or simply distract the child with another item of some sort. The later option is more than likely better when it is determined that there may be "liberal" mothers who see spanking as abuse rather than correction. They may call enforcement and have CPS nazi's come after the parents for their decision to spank rather than spoil.....

So how young is too young to spank.....the bible does not give any guidelines to an appropriate age. It is safe to assume spanking can begin before the age of one! Remember, a child that young shouldn't need more than a little tap. However, spanking should only be used as a means of suppressing the child's appetite for the undesirable things of this world.

Here are a few verses that guide us when disciplining our children. We are to first and foremost ensure that grace and submission to Christ are a part of our disciplinary action. Without that, we are wandering wayfarers. Spending time with our children and specific instruction rules out our need for spanking. But in a world filled with appetites for undesirable things....spanking MUST be used to guide a child in the right direction.

Pro 20:11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Pro 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Pro 23:13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.

Pro 23:24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.

Pro 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

Ecc 4:13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

2Ti 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.