Spanking-A Loving Discipline: Helpful and Practical Answers for Today's Parents

by Roy Lessin

In this guide for Christian parents seeking biblical advice on how to discipline in a loving manner, Lessin defines the rightful place and correct methods of spanking and helps parents discern between loving instruction and excessive or angry reaction.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764225634
• ISBN13: 9780764225635
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
• Length: 108 Pages
• Weight: 1.23 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.0" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

Rave Review

Excellent book! Folks tend to swing toward extremes with child discipline, either physical abuse or no discipline whatsoever, which is also a form of child abuse, though much less publicized. Lessin hits the nail on the head, helping folks to understand what Godly, loving, firm, yet compassionate discipline looks like.

Even MY KIDS agree with this book!!

I'm in the middle of raising four boys (ages 2.5-11) and I would highly reccomend this book to any parent searching for a consistent and effective way to discipline. Let me begin by saying I believe the Bible is the best "self-help" book there is. I would hold its value above any other book and any other author, because I believe its author (God and the men he inspired-see-2 Peter 1:20-22 and 2 Timothy 3:16) wrote the wisest words to pay attention to. Having said that, we live with little kids who need discipline of some sort. Every expert would agree with that. Most parents love their children enough to want to discipline them. They care that their children know the difference between good and bad behavior, right and wrong choices, acceptable and unacceptable attitudes. In short they want to have a happy home, with great kids that love and respect them. Is that too much to ask?? No. And the principles of this book can really help you reach that goal. We are at that point. Now, my kids aren't perfect, only our God is. Their rooms still get messy. They struggle with selfishness at times, but that's a life long issue we all face. What I'm getting at is the heart. And that is the goal of Roy's book. Training them through VERY simple discipline and TONS of love and affection, what is pleasing to God. Why do my kids love this book? Because they can totally understand the logic and the plan from a very early age, (about age 2). Here's the beauty of it all. Roy teaches that there are two reasons and only two reasons to spank. I prefer stating these reasons in the positive rather than in the negative. In our house every kid knows that we only have 2 (count them-1, 2) rules. 1. Obey 2. Have a Good Attitude. My kids love these rules. They don't have a big old long list of little rules they have to remember and varying situations and circumstances. We remind them of these 2 rules from the time they are pre-schoolers and can understand words like "attitude". And it sticks. And think about it.....isn't that what God asks from us? To love and obey His Word and to have an attitude like Jesus does (Phil. 2:4-6). When these two rules and not followed, you spank and you love. That's it. If you have a toddler who doesn't obey when you tell him to not touch something, or to "come here", you spank for disobedience. If you have a young child who won't resonably share a toy (selfishness) or gets really mad (anger/rage) when you say it's time to go, time for a bath, time for bed....then you spank, for a "wrong" attitude. Now remember to look at the heart here. If you've been at the mall all afternoon with a 2 year old, forgot about lunch and are late for his nap, that's a parent's fault, not the child's. But if you see a defiant spirit growing in your child, of increased selfishness and wanting his way more than God's way, you want to nip that in the bud, and discipline (spank & love) consistently. Now, how exactly to spank is a big subject. I believe a singl

Please.

The author isn't talking about breaking spoons over children's backside or pulling down panties or bending anyone over the bed and beating them with a belt. He's talking about discipline and how being a parent should work. You are the law in your household and that means not allowing bad behavior. You also don't have to spank your kid hard or bruise them or spank them constantly. Honestly, saying "no" one hundred times to your toddler in a store isn't going to do anything besides annoy everyone else. It isn't effective. Children learn not to do inappropriate things through experience. How many times have you touched something hot and remembered to never do it again? It's like that. Human beings respond more to physical stimuli more than verbal. My parents were raised in the fifties and they were spanked with belts, spoons, paddles and other malicious things. It did make them afraid of acting up but they still loved their parents and their parents loved them and they knew that when mom or dad said no, they meant it. They still made their own decisions and grew up fine. But discipline doesn't have to be as harsh as that. It can be a slight smack on the hand to emphasize a point. If you don't agree with the book then the method of raising children written in it isn't for you. Don't bash it and turn it into something it's not. Again, he's not advocating abuse at all. Read the book, people. Also, if you were abused, get some help. Don't look at every book on physical discipline and immediately start crying and shaking your finger at the author. Get some help to heal the hurt and move on in your life. Let people raise their children the way they want. Avoid books like this if you don't use the method. Books like this are meant for people who are seeking help raising their children in a way they see fit and for those who want to do it appropriately. As for the abuse part, I don't really think an angry person would read a book to learn how to abuse a child. If you love your children and raised them to your liking, good for you. Let other people learn their way and don't try to point fingers and tell others how to raise their children.

Judge for yourself by actually reading the book

Again we have people who have not even read this book complaining simply because it deals with the subject of spanking. Yes spanking is a touchy subject with some people, but this is a REVIEW section.. NOT a debate forum. Being one of the few who has actually read this book, I can state for a fact the author does not advocate child abuse, or beating children. We are talking about a simple, loving spanking by loving parents, and practical answers for today's parents. Judge this book yourself by actually reading it, instead of simply listening to those who wish to force their beliefs on others.

My favorite (and most influential) parenting book.

This book has been the best thing that has ever happended to me (and my husband)as a parent. I read the first edition and actually got to sit under the teaching in the author's home in 1997 and I don't know what I would have become as a parent if I hadn't had this teaching. It has been the KEY to giving us a peaceful and pleasant home. Before having kids I was dreading becoming a parent because I was afraid of the responsibility of raising children. This book has the keys to raising children who are obedient and truly happy. They are (usually) peaceful inside when I consistently apply the principles that Roy brings out. It is amazing. I have many friends who also use these principles and the results are consistent. It is based on many Bible verses and I never realized how clear the Bible is in giving us guidance for raising kids. Folks who are not followers of Jesus may not agree with all of it, of course, because they may not use the Bible as their standard, so this book would not be for them.It has given me such a clear picture of how to raise children. The spanking is just an aspect of child rearing and Roy Lessin shows us how to integrate it as a training tool and when and how to do it right and well without being abusive. It is WONDERFUL! Cathy Carrion, mother of 4