Doing this parenting course has made me think a bit more about parenting theories, and this morning I came across two that I had never heard of before.
The first, promoted by the Ezzos, uses the bible to promote old testament rigidity on children. The link is to a site explaining why the Ezzo method is dangerous – not to the official site.
The second, promoted by the Pearls, is very similar, but quite shocking in its promotion of violence against children, even babies a few months old.
Here is an excerpt from an article on toddler taming –
So, when your child of any age starts throwing a tantrum, NEVER, NEVER… I repeat, NEVER give in to their demands. Your denial of their lust, coupled with a good stinging swat or two, will cause the child to see the futility and helplessness of his demands. When your child is convinced by your consistent response of enforcing negative consequences for negative behavior, he will cease his vain and tiresome behavior, employing some other means to achieve pleasure.
I feel sick. It’s revolting and shocking to me that these people are allowed to promote such dangerous ideas. This is NOT my idea of Christianity, any more that suicide bombers reflect true Islam.
Disco Knitter 
Oh God. This world is so messed up.
The other problem with this is that the first part is right. Never ever give in to a childs’ tantrum. But the way to do is to stay calm and just ignore it. The problem is extremists of either side. The ones who give in and allow their children to rule the roost are doing as much damage as those who resort to corporal punishment to try to “control” their kids.
Let’s hope there are as many parenting web sites out there that promote healthy parenting, and that the majority of people find those ones first.
I can’t understand how Christians of any creed can get far enough past “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” to get to the point of whacking their kids.
Parenting is so hard though, and so many people have little or no support.
This is so scary.
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I’m with Fe all the way.
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Lust? Two year olds? Give me a break? Don’t they even know the difference between anger and lust? Or between anger and frustration, which is what causes tantrums in a two-year old – frustration that they are so little and want so much and can’t make people understand. You ignore, you distract, you might even use a ‘naughty step’ to show them that there are other better ways of being heard. Swatting shows a lack of self control on the part of the parent, IMHO.
But hey, I’ve only raised three adults – what would I know?
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The Ezzos scare me…
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x is getting to that toddler taming age. i use the ignore/distraction technique.if anything i find that reacting to the tantrums gets X more worked up.
I know there’s a whole spectrum of parenting techniques out there.
i’ve never understood why some people call themselves CHristians when what they practice is contrary to JC’s teachings. eg. the “God hates fags” brigade.
(formerly LBW)
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Werent these groups outed as promoting abusive child raising methods by the Commission for Children and Young People? I seem to remember a splash of negative publicity about their ‘swatting’ methods.
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