Okay, I do not have children of my own, at least that I know of, and if I did, I would be an involved parent.
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled on this in 2004 and parents may spank in certain situations from the age of 2-12.
Those limits include:
- Spanking could be used against children between the ages of two and 12 years old.
- Children could not be disciplined with an object.
- Hits to the head would be unacceptable
My parents were born in 1931 and 1932 both abroad. My dad hit me once and my mom regularly sent me to the .15 cent store to buy replacement wooden spoons. Back then, they came in packages of 10 for .50 cents, she'd keep 4 for cooking and 6 for me! One day I was 9 and was sent to get the spoons, well I returned home empty handed and told her they had sold out! My mom said, "Really, you stand over there and wait." She called the store, boy was I in shit! LOL
I came home drunk once I was 13 and my mom went wacko with the hitting and she was using an open hand. Well, I pissed her off something awful when I started laughing and said, "Mom, you hit like a girl!" Well didn't she hall off and swing hitting me in the shoulder and breaking three fingers! Boy did I feel bad. NOT!
I was about 10 and being a smartass, telling my mom that if she hit me again, I'd call the CAS! Wow was that a dumb move on my part! My dad instructed me to get my jacket and meet him and my mom at the car. I had no idea what was happening, but I knew it wouldn't be good! My bad drives to the CAS, and the three of us enter where a social worker met us. My dad said and my mom agreed, "Here, you keep until he gets it in that thick skull of his that we make the rules and he respects them." I'm like are you for real? My dad says, "You have one set of clothing that's on your back and the jacket can stay and that's it." Enjoy your new life son. Wow, I was scared shitless because the expression on my dad face and the silence of my mom, I knew they were serious. Of course, we went home, but not until there was a family discussion with the social worker, who didn't take either side.
Anyway, I screwed up at 16, my mom went to hit me so I blocked it, and just said, "I'm sorry but there's no need to hit me." They both agreed so they didn't talk to me for 3 days! LOL.
I chose a career path where I've seen the worst that society offers. Adults, teens and children, they are all sad becoming mad eventually becoming bad and it's a cycle difficult to survive and stop.
With all that said, I agree there are times to spank to correct behaviour as a teaching method, never spank more than once-it's overkill and unnecessary, explain what was wrong.
Examples:
Hand on the burner or fireplace.
Playing with lighters or matches.
Playing with cleaning products.
Teasing pets or other animals.
Stealing.
Lying.
Running away (in a store, parking lot, park)
There are two places that I would spank, the rear-end and the palm.
Hell, I remember when my mom would take me to Robinsons, Sears or Zellers as a child and could leave me in the toy section with other kids while the moms shopped, never any issues. That seems like a 100 years ago and could never happen now.
A principal gave me the leather strap I was 8, sent me home with a note for my parents. After dinner, my father called the priest (back then they were more important than anyone from the school board). My parents attended the school with me the next day, the monsignor was there waiting with the principal (male btw). There was no arguing or raised voices; my dad simple said to the principal, "If my son is out of line, you call our home or our employers and we will discipline him appropriately if we feel there is a need." I can recall this clearly stated by my dad, "Yesterday's incident is closed and never physically discipline our son again because you do not and will not ever have our permission to."
Didn't hurt that my dad was 6'5 280, retired military, played soccer and rugby in the land of Robbie Burns, and my mom was 5'0 foot nothing but a mean Frenchie! LOL.
Society needs to check and help those that have little or no coping skills with children. That should be mandated for everyone some may require a few days, some up to a year, some on-going and some may choose to surrender the child. There is no perfect solution. Hey, I'm all for mandated sterilization of those who can't handle parenthood or become baby-making machines for alittle extra coin, if you get my drift.
For two decades I coached minor sports at elite levels in Ontario, many went on to do very well academically and athletically but I packed up the drill and playbook, put the sneakers and whistle away because of parents, not players, parents. I always used a fair play until the final quarter theory, those who were playing well, saw the fourth. I became frustrated as players didn't show up for practise, 2x weekly for 90 minutes in no-less than 40 games through league/tournaments/travel. One day, two parents approach me with a piece of legislation that I'm familar with and say Coach HOF, you can't do these drills and windsprints as they are considered corporal punishment. I smiled politely, asked them to put their concern in writing and they did, it was sent to me, the club and the governing association. I was asked by the club and association what I wanted to do-simple give those two families their entire registration minus whatever deduction for expenses to date and be gone, free to play elsewhere the following season. Our team was sad for a week about losing players, but oh well, we won the Provincial title and finished 2nd nationally and I walked away after that season because of parents.
I graduated to wooden paint stick. Mom would ground me, and where the stick landed it landed. Bottom, legs, back, arms, head... Of course her favorite weapons were still guilt, fear, what others thought, and good enough wasn't good enough. I figure I was pretty much cowed around 10. 
