Japanese netizens both condemn and praise this mother for her actions.

Corporal punishment has undergone a huge evolutionary arc over the centuries, from being an established norm to a frowned-upon act, and nowhere is it more discussed or debated than in the world of parenting.

While parents continue to discipline their children in different ways, the issue of physical punishment, particularly in terms of spanking, is a controversial one that often fires up debate. Here in Japan, that debate has been ignited yet again, after a recent video shared on Twitter showed a mother smacking her child when he rode his bicycle in front of an oncoming car.

Take a look at the video below:

The dash-cam footage, which appears to be from 2017, shows a child on a bicycle suddenly dashing out from behind a parked car on the left-hand side of the road. The child, who seems to have come from the driveway of his home, comes to a stop at the kerb on the right-hand side of the road, looking at the car and then behind him.

Seconds later, a young woman peers out from behind the parked car, and when she sees the stopped car on the road, she bows and runs over to the child. She immediately smacks him across the face, and the force of the blow sends him falling backwards onto the ground.

She picks both him and the bicycle up, and the car then continues on its way, having avoided what could’ve been a very dangerous collision.

The video immediately caused a stir on Twitter, with people quick to condemn the mother for physically punishing the child.

“I don’t agree with this at all. She should know that at this age, children can be injured the second you take your eyes off them.”
“It’s the parent’s responsibility to watch their child to stop them from dashing out like this in the first place.”
“The problem is the child will end up fearing being beaten by their mother, rather than learning a life lesson.”
“There is no future in education based on fear.”
“I don’t understand why this slap is acceptable. I would never do it. All you have to do is talk to them and explain that it’s dangerous.”

On the other hand, there were comments that sided with the mother in this situation.

“This is not corporal punishment! This is simply a mother who’s deeply concerned for her child.”
“A spank can be necessary to protect a child’s life, because it would be too late to discipline them after an accident happens.”
“I was raised by this type of mother, and I’m really grateful for it now.”
“A slap like this will only hurt for a moment, but if your child dies from lack of discipline, that pain will stay with you for the rest of your life.”
“There are things you can’t comprehend when you’re young, but you can understand not to do things again if you get smacked for it.”

The content of the video does deal with a touchy subject that brings out two very differing opinions on the issue of parenting. However, it’s important to note that not only is it illegal to slap another person’s kids, but the Japanese Government is currently working towards making it illegal to hit your own children when disciplining them, following yearly increases in reported child abuse cases in Japan.

Where do you stand on the debate? Let us know in the comments section below.

Source: My Game News Flash
Featured image: Twitter/@AceStriker11
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