Smacking children is not acceptable and parents should look for alternative ways to discipline their children.

This is according to Pip Jaffa, chief executive at the Parents Advice Centre, who said that slapping and hitting youngsters should not be happening.

She noted that there are plenty of ways to show children you are angry with them, such as raising the tone of your voice.

"You have to apply [measures of discipline] depending on the age and stage of the child and whatever the misdemeanour is. It has to be proportionate to whatever the child has done wrong," Ms Jaffa commented.

Younger children should be verbally scolded as soon as they have done something wrong, whereas parents dealing with older kids should try to reason with them and make them see the consequences of their behaviour, she added.

A recent poll commissioned by children's minister Barry Andrews revealed that 58 per cent of Irish parents think smacking should remain legal.

Written by Donal Walsh

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