You say in your aticle online, “The current law allowing for “reasonable chastisement” of children dates back to 1860 and means that children have less protection from being hit than adults.”

Children also have less protection in many other areas than do adults: eg “No pudding until you eat your first course”; “Go to your room”; “You’re grounded for the next week”; “I’m stopping your pocket money”; “Take your clothes off: I’m going to give you a bath”.

The parent-child relationship is unique and there are indeed many elements of it that are not replicated in an adult-adult relationship. Punishment (corporal or otherwise) is one of them.

Alan Bright
London
E6 5LZnbsp; nbsp;nbsp;