Does a step father have the right to spank a step child?

Answer 1

Methods of discipline are determined by the child's caregivers, the people involved in this decision should all agree on what method they are using.

Child buttock-battering vs. DISCIPLINE:

Child buttock-battering for the purpose of gaining compliance is nothing more than an inherited bad habit. It's a good idea for people to take a look at what they are doing, and learn how to DISCIPLINE instead of hit. I think the reason why television shows like "Supernanny" and "Dr. Phil" are so popular is because that is precisely what many (not all) people are trying to teach.

There are several reasons why child buttock-battering isn't a good idea. Here are some good, quick reads recommended by professionals:

• Plain Talk About Spanking by Jordan Riak,
• The Sexual Dangers of Spanking Children by Tom Johnson,
• NO VITAL ORGANS THERE, So They Say by Lesli Taylor M.D. and Adah Maurer Ph.D.

Most compelling of all reasons to abandon this worst of all bad habits is the fact that buttock-battering can be unintentional sexual abuse for some children. There is an abundance of educational resources, testimony, documentation, etc available on the subject that can easily be found by doing a little research on "spanking".

The following are among those who are trying to raise awareness of why child buttock-battering isn't a good idea:

• American Academy of Pediatrics,
• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,
• Center For Effective Discipline,
• PsycHealth Ltd Behavioral Health Professionals,
• Churches' Network For Non-Violence,
• Nobel Peace Prize recipient Archbishop Desmond Tutu,
• Parenting In Jesus' Footsteps,
• Global Initiative To End All Corporal Punishment of Children,
• United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

In 26 countries, child buttock-battering is prohibited by law (with more in process). In fact, the US was the only UN member that did not ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Answer 2

Answer (General)

Laws vary according location. Whether or not spanking is even legal where you are and whether or not the step parent had proper jurisdiction or not are two important factors. You would need to provide that information for an accurate answer.

Answer (United Kingdom)

In the United Kingdom, the only people lawfully allowed to punish a child are the immediate biological relations. A step-father is not a biological relation, so he has no legal right to punish any step-children. Unless the step-father has legally adopted the child through court.

Other than that, hitting a child, including spanking, in the United Kingdom has been declared child abuse, due to long-term psychological studies into physical punishment against children. So, if you are a resident of the UK, spanking a child whether you're biologically-related or not is a crime.