We were all kids once and we all know that we liked to push the limits to see what we can get away with. If you are over a certain age chances are you were spanked as a child.
Maybe you were disciplined with a swat of the hand or maybe even a belt, switch, or hairbrush.
These days, a lot of people might consider that abuse. But few of us really know what the law actually says about spanking or just disciplining your child in general. The main purpose of this report is to address an area of confusion is that most of us as parents, and even the public, are not educated on the laws when it comes to disciplining your children. I am here to argue that as a parent, once educated on the law, you can discipline your child as you should; and not fear being charged with child abuse. You will also be able to shut your kid’s traps if they threatened to call the authorities on you. Most of the kids that attempt this only get this from other kids that only know part of the law and again their parents aren’t educated on it, they are just plain scared. There is a child discipline law in every state. The laws in every state pretty much say the same thing. As a matter of fact some of them are almost worded the same. In this instance I will tell you what the Texas state law says. This was taken from the website, “kidjacked.com/legal/spanking law.asp#texas”
“Abuse does not include reasonable discipline by a parent/guardian/managing or possessory conservator if child not exposed to substantial risk of harm. Family Code § 261.001. [Civil Code]
Parent/stepparent/person standing in loco parentis to child is justified to use non-deadly force against a child under 18 when and to degree the actor reasonably believes necessary to discipline, or safeguard or promote child's welfare. Penal § 9.61. [Criminal Code]”. That is the Family Code and
Criminal code, word for word and reading it you might say wow to the verbiage that says “is justified to use non-deadly force” That seems like some pretty harsh words.

Let’s try and dissect this a little. As we all know everything is up for interpretation. Well my opinion is let the lawyers interpret that if you are ever in that position. I will stand my ground according to the law if anyone tries to challenge me on it because knowledge is power and if you analyze the law I think you will overcome any legal issue concerning child abuse.

Education is the key here and as parents you don’t have to be afraid to discipline your children weather in your own home or in public. The law is there to protect you and your children. What ever you do don’t go out there and give your kid a black eye or seriously hurt them. We love our children and we would never want to hurt them. I mean it hurts enough when you conduct simple discipline like a swat on the butt, but you have to be strong in order for the discipline to work. Key to this if you spank or hit your children do it below the waist and you should never do it out of anger or just too angry at your child. What is going to happen is you will hurt the child and you will then be charged with child abuse.

Like I said above education is the key and if you are educated on the law of child discipline you as a parent should never be afraid to discipline your child at home or in the public, you too are protected.

Bibliography:
1. http://kidjacked.com/legal/spanking_law.asp#texas 2. http://www.woai.com/content/troubleshooters/story/To-spank-or-not-to-spank- What- does-Texas-law-say/04q17j51tUi4NURs5oHuqw.cspx To spank or not to spank: What does Texas law say? 3. http://pediatrics.about.com/od/childabuse/a/05_physcl_abuse.htm 4. http://www.stophitting.com/index.php?page=legalnews 5. http://www.nospank.net/hb383.htm