This week, parents and children take centre stage as Insight looks at what’s acceptable when it comes to disciplining children.
Add Your Comments
Currently 101 comments
Researchers like Andre Renzaho from Monash University say that migrants from collectivist cultures often find Australian parenting styles too laidback, and are surprised to learn that smacking can be frowned upon. Of course there are also many people born here in Australia who say there is nothing wrong with the occasional smack.
Corporal punishment is legal in Australia, so the question remains whether parents should have the freedom to discipline their kids as they see fit.
And it’s not just smacking. We also look at other methods of keeping kids in line – everything from ‘time out’, removal of privileges, withholding food, or, as one of our guests puts it simply, “The Look”.
Producers: Meggie Palmer and Kate Mayhew
Associate Producer: Mawunyo Gbogbo
Researcher: Anna Belgiorno-Nettis
Meet the Guests
-
Temple family
Jeremiah, his wife Ayodele and their four children are originally from Sierra Leone. Jeremiah says he uses various methods to discipline the kids, with the most severe being a smack. Ayodele says she prefers not to smack, favouring talking to her kids instead. Jeremiah is adamant his children grow up embracing both the Australian and Sierra Leonean cultures.
-
Andre Renzaho
Associate Professor Andre Renzaho says people need to stop seeing western styles of parenting as superior to that of other cultures. Andre has looked closely into the parenting challenges faced by migrants and refugees in Australia and is the Director of Migration, Social Disadvantage and Health Programs at Monash University. Andre and his wife Catherine have drawn up a contract with their twin sons and daughter to promote good behaviour.
-
Pinky McKay and Larissa Sampson
Pinky McKay has written a book for toddlers and says discipline techniques such as smacking, putting children in the naughty corner and shaming are inappropriate. Pinky has five adult children including daughter Larissa who is a psychologist and has a son of her own. Larissa says there’s plenty of cross-cultural research showing even occasional smacking increases aggression in children.
-
Doomadgee family
Alec Doomadgee grew up in a traditional Aboriginal family in Doomadgee in remote Queensland. He remembers being told dreamtime stories to encourage him to behave. Alec has five children and now lives in Sydney. Although Alec doesn't shy away from smacking, his sons Bailey and Zach say that sometimes all it takes is a disapproving look from their Dad for them to get them in line.
-
Jenni Young
Jenni is a single mother who warns her son first before resorting to a smack. She feels it’s important to establish boundaries early. She says she hasn’t needed to smack eight year old Connor for a year because the embarrassment factor is a big deterrent for him. Jenni doesn’t feel guilty about smacking him and is confident that her discipline methods will benefit him in the future.
-
Renu Varshney
Renu Varshney believes smacking is the lazy option. She and her husband have never smacked their sons who are now aged 20 and 16. Renu was smacked as a child and prefers to communicate with her sons rather than use physical force.
VideoNEW
Podcasts
Blogs
