Disciplining Your Child is not Abuse
             A child comes home early from school one day and his mother asks him why he is home so early. The child tells his mother that he was sent home early for getting into an argument with another child at school, and not stopping when told to do so. So the parent decides that she must spank her son so he will not attempt to fight again. She spanks him once and then he apologizes for his actions. Is this an example of child abuse? I'd say no, but you can decide for yourself by reading the following definition of child abuse.
             The American Heritage Dictionary defines child abuse or "battered child syndrome" as:
             A combination of continuing, serious physical injuries, such as bruises, scratches, hematomas, burns, or malnutrition, inflicted on a child through gross abuse usually by parents, guardians, or other caregivers.
             From this definition, I think that disciplining your child is not child abuse. I believe this because a child needs to be disciplined every once in awhile as long as you don't bruise or scar anyone. I also believe tat disciplining your child is not child abuse because a parent is given so few options of how to raise a child. Another reason I believe that discipline is not child abuse because I have witnessed child abuse and I believe it is only child abuse when you discipline with extreme measures.
             Every once in awhile a child needs to be disciplined. In disciplining your child, I mean to spank once or twice, slap on the hand, verbal discipline, or a soft slap on the face. Now when you spank a child, if you hit them hard enough to leave a mark (bruise) than this would be considered abuse. This is the same with a slap. Also if you spank or slap your child more than two in one attempt to disciplining your child times than this is considered as child abuse. You can also discipline through verbal ways. You can either use a strict tone of voice...