Nursery World - Children vote to rule out smacking

Children have joined the debate on physical punishment by overwhelmingly voting against smacking. More than 90 per cent of children rejected the use of physical punishment in a survey conducted by Save the Children in Scotland. Three quarters of children questioned for the It Doesn't Sort Anything report believe it is absolutely wrong for a parents or other adults ever to hit a child, with one 11-year-old saying, 'I think it's not fair and I'd prefer children loving me and obeying me than being scared of me and obeying me.'

More than 90 per cent of children rejected the use of physical punishment in a survey conducted by Save the Children in Scotland. Three quarters of children questioned for the It Doesn't Sort Anything report believe it is absolutely wrong for a parents or other adults ever to hit a child, with one 11-year-old saying, 'I think it's not fair and I'd prefer children loving me and obeying me than being scared of me and obeying me.'

The Scottish Executive is currently considering proposals to ban the smacking of children under three and the hitting of children of any age with an implement. This has been welcomed by Save the Children in Scotland, but the charity believes it does not go far enough and wants a total ban on smacking.

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