One-in-four parents admit smacking their children

JUST one in four parents in Ireland admit smacking their children but there is still no widespread support for an outright ban on physical punishment, a new state-funded report reveals.

While 42% of parents feel that smacking should be banned, most parents believe that they should retain the right to smack their children.

The report on Parenting Styles and Discipline funded by the Minister for Children’s office, includes a survey of 1,353 parents conducted at the end of 2007.