Most parents say they feel bad

Most parents say they feel bad and apologetic after hitting their children, a MORI survey for the NSPCC has found. Almost four in five (79 per cent) of parents who physically punish their children said they felt upset afterwards, while just under three-quarters (73 per cent) said they felt sad, two-thirds (67 per cent) were regretful and 65 per cent felt guilty, with 37 per cent admitting to feeling tearful. Almost seven in ten (69 per cent ) said they apologised for their behaviour afterwards. The survey also found that parents who had not been physically punished in their own childhoods were much more likely to say that physical punishment is the wrong way to discipline children, but those who had been physically punished were more likely to repeat the behaviour with their own children. NSPCC director Mary Marsh said, 'Our research shows that a majority of parents do not believe that punishing children by hitting them is the right thing to do. But many are still hitting, mainly lashing out in frustration or anger. Parents need advice on how to cope with these feelings without hitting their children. The Government has a responsibility to take a lead and to learn from other countries.' , where big strides are being made to make hitting children a thing of the past. Hitting children is not a solution and the Government should promote this message.'