Psychiatrist weighs in on smacking debate after father charged with allegedly slapping son

A psychiatrist has reignited the age-old debate around smacking as discipline, claiming parents should be allowed to give their kids 'a little smack'.

"I think you can still be a good parent and have a range of ways of moderating behavior, which includes occasional smacking," Dr Tanveer Ahmed told radio host Ben Fordham.

Ahmed spoke to 2GB's Fordham about a recent incident where a Sydney father was charged with common assault after allegedly slapping his 17-year-old boy in front of police.

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The incident has caused quite a stir.

During the interview on 2GB's breakfast show, Fordham asked the psychiatrist whether he believed the dad's reaction was justified.

"I don't think we can be too black and white as a rule of physical punishment. If that's your main form of discipline, that's a problem. And if it's your way when you lose control of your emotions, that's also a problem," Ahmed responded.

"But it doesn't look like that was the case in this one."

The psychiatrist pointed out that while he didn't believe the dad just lost control 'in the moment', his son's age was something to be noted in this instance.

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"At age 17, I don't think it's much to be honest. He's almost an adult. But up to a certain age, probably till their early teens, it can be a useful measure in setting boundaries."

Ahmed, who has two daughters himself, argued that in some cultures smacking is used as a way to bring on shame to a child.

"This is the boundary we expect in our communal environment if you like. But I think we get too black and white where we go - it's just a source of shaming. It's entirely negative."

"I don't think that's always the case," he argues.

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The psychiatrist also said the state shouldn't be interfering with how parents discipline their children.

"I think it's an overreach and I hope they don't go too far. I certainly hope it doesn't go any further. Overall I'm wary of government and the state intruding too heavily into parenting."

During the discussion Fordham admitted to being 'flogged' when he misbehaved at school or at home, asking whether this experience is proven to 'damage' a child's psychology.

Something Ahmed says the research on isn't very clear.

"They sometimes bring associations with ongoing physical punishment and later you're more likely to be aggressive. You're more likely to have emotional problems. But they are often more associations than proof."

However, research by the Australian Catholic University earlier this year contradicts this claim.

The results found that smacking children could cause an increased risk of mental health disorders, encourages use of violence and damages long-term behaviour.

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Many experts say smacking is a form of violence, even calling for it to be banned in Australia.

"If I kick my dog I'll be charged with animal cruelty, but yet it's still legal in this country to hit my kids, even though the research shows there are better ways to discipline our kids that don't require violence," parenting expert Justin Coulson said.

Ahmed's honest opinion is that parents should be allowed to give their kids a "little smack".

"When it's combined with other measures, you know, you, you take away their privileges, you set other types of boundaries," he told Fordham.

"There are rare times when it may venture into abuse or something like that, but I think that's extremely rare."

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Following the controversial take, listeners chimed in with their opinion, with many in support of smacking.

Mum Lorraine called up to say she didn't believe the father did anything wrong, "Our kids are losing so much respect for their parents and for adults, and I just think the world is going crazy by doing this sort of thing."

"The son wouldn't be living at home anymore if he was mine," listener David said.

While Mitch questioned the police's response, "What's wrong with the laws in Australia these days? The son must have needed a slap if his father decided to hit him."

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However, others disagreed with the dad's actions entirely.

"Hitting a 17-year-old across the face is assault. Parents need to move on from physical discipline once the child is capable of understanding their actions," said Victoria.

Fordham, who is a father of three himself, says while he's managed to avoid smacking his kids 'so far' he has found a way to get the message across.

"I have used the line: Would you like the first-ever smack of your life?"