More than 90 per cent of young respondents to a survey conducted by the charity Save the Children in Scotland rejected the use of physical punishment. Three-quarters of those questioned for its 'It Doesn't Sort Anything' report said they believe it is 'absolutely wrong' for parents or other adults ever to hit a child.
The Scottish Executive is currently considering proposals to ban the smacking of children under three and the hitting of children of any age with an implement. While Save the Children in Scotland has welcomed this, it says the proposals do not go far enough and wants a total ban on smacking.
The report, which gives the views of more than 1,300 children from across Scotland, found that they feel confused because the same adults who tell them hitting is wrong use physical force themselves. Children often saw smacking as a result of parents' stress and frustration and they expressed concern about injuries that could result.
The survey also found children as young as six have made a link between the use of violence at home and violent behaviour in society, including bullying. Six-year-old Sally said, 'Children who are smacked might smack lots of people when they are older.'
Elizabeth Cutting, a policy and research worker who wrote the report, said it was important 'as it considers the views of children themselves and they are the ones on the receiving end of physical punishment'. She added, 'We can see clearly now how distressing and humiliating they find the experience - any level of violence can have an intense physical and emotional impact on children.'