Peter Andre has weighed into a controversial parenting debate by saying he ‘doesn’t see anything wrong’ with smacking.
The father-of-three wrote in his latest New Magazine column that he was smacked as a child.
He wrote:
As a child I got smacked when I did something wrong and it never did my brothers or I any harm.
Of course no parent should physically harm their child, but I don’t see anything wrong with a smack on the hand or the bum to discipline them.
Andre’s comments come after a panel of experts advised the United Nations that smacking should be made illegal in the UK, The Huffington Post reports.
However, while the singer revealed he doesn’t view smacking as a criminal offence, he admitted he has never physically disciplined his own children.
Instead, he prefers the ‘naughty step’ method with his two-year-old daughter Amelia, saying that it ‘really works’:
When she does something wrong she will say, ‘Millie sorry’, then go on it and say what she’s sorry for.
My two beautiful daughters taking a stroll in our Cyprus home gardens Wonderful times :))
A photo posted by Peter Andre (@pj_andre) on
He also spoke about disciplining his eldest daughter, Princess, with his ex-wife Katie Price:
When Bista was about six, she went through a naughty stage.
To discipline her, I’d send her to her room and take all the toys away. She knew I was very serious, so wouldn’t act up.
So, while Andre doesn’t disapprove of smacking children, he’s never actually done it to his own. Is it fair to advocate such a controversial parenting method if his children don’t endure it?
