Bulgarian Parents Frown on Indulgent Child-Rearing Practices
If Bulgarian children often strike foreigners as unnaturally well-behaved in public places, that could be due to the liberal use by parents of smacks, albeit light ones, a survey shows.
According to the poll, conducted by the state-run National Center for Research of Public Opinion, 65% of Bulgarian parents admit to lightly smacking their children, a practice banned in countries from Sweden to Germany.
At the same more than 80% of the respondents condemn all acts of violence againstchildren, saying this would humiliate the child and hurt its dignity.
In Bulgaria there is hardly any taboo against smacking in public: many a harassed parent can be seen apologetically slapping a tot in a park or supermarket.
Parents say they can be trusted to know the difference between the odd slap and repeated physical abuse.
The survey however shows that the more educated the parents are and more developed the environment they are raising their kid in, the more sentimental and indulgent the child-rearing practices get.
Vocal child-protection groups argue that smacking, however occasional, may mask a serious problem, undermines children's confidence, weakens their emotional relationships, and encourages the use of violence to resolve disputes.
Text and photo: http://novinite.com
(13.03.2012)