What would you do if you saw a mother disciplining her kids in public by spraying them with a water bottle? Would you step in and say something, or let the parent deal with their children however they see fit?
This is the scenario that was posed in the popular television show, hosted by John Quinones, called ‘What Would You Do? The show has actors portraying uncomfortable or controversial situations in public to see the public’s reaction.
The purpose of the show is to capture the reactions of people around the actors. How will they react in an unpleasant situation? Especially if that situation involves children and questionable parenting skills. It’s a sensitive subject, to say the least.
This particular episode involves “spray bottle punishment.”
“Spray bottle punishment” is being used by parents who swear by its effectiveness. Other parents say it’s humiliating and abusive.
The scene of the documentary series is set in a grocery store; the actress is pushing a cart through the aisles with two of her children. The children ask a senior woman for assistance in grabbing a box of cookies. The mom sees this from afar and steps in with a spray bottle, spraying them in the face.
The elderly woman, not knowing these are actors, is shocked by what she is witnessing. The kids were clearly upset after being sprayed in the face with water. The mother tries to explain to the stunned woman that it’s how she punishes them.
The stranger who witnessed the mom spray her kids tries telling her to ease up, after all, they’re just kids.
“Would you like that in your face? Try it. There are other ways to appeal to them,” the older woman explains to the actress playing the mom.
The older woman even goes on to tell her that animals shouldn’t even be treated the way that she is treating their kids. At this point, the cameras emerge, and John Quinones explains to the woman that she is on a reality show. She’s relieved to know that it wasn’t real but still stands by her words.
As the cameras keep rolling, more and more people chime in with their approval or thoughts of disgust. People can’t help but weigh in.
One woman stops her cart to assist the mom after she sprays them with water. She tries to tell the kids that they have to listen to their mom or “this is what happens.” The actress mom asks the woman if she would use a spray bottle on her kids.
“I sure would. Sure would,” she responds. “A spray bottle is good nowadays.”
Throughout the entire social experiment, there were varied reactions to the mother’s form of discipline.
Some people say that they wholeheartedly agree with the mom and think using a spray bottle is a perfect idea. Others offer different types of advice, like a little slap on the bottom. Some people thought that the mother spraying their kids was downright hilarious.
What’s interesting is that almost every single person compares the disciplinary act as something you’d do to animals. They either thought it was genius or cruel. The last guest to unknowingly appear on the hidden camera show was utterly appalled.
All of the reactions are caught in the video below. How would you react? Is “spray bottle punishment” an okay form of discipline for kids?
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
Back when DD9 was a baby (before I'd ever had to even scold her) I heard about this method of discipline and I thought it was an awesome idea. I even told other people about it and how great I thought it would be.
I am so embarrassed that I ever felt that way.
I would never/could never treat my children like this. It is so completely disrespectful.
I think it depends. I mean, as a first course of action - it is mean. But if your kids have repeatedly failed to respond to other forms of discipline, I can see where it could be useful.
There is no "one size fits all" to parenting.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
I don't know about cats, but all my dogs and my kids think it's fun.
You get out a spray bottle, Monster will jump around and bark wanting to be sprayed.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
I would have considered that to get my teen son out of bed for school in the morning, lol. There was one episode of The Middle where Frankie sprays Brick in the face for whooping. Hilarious.
But, in real life, i can't see doing that. I wouldn't call that child abuse. But, just seems kind of stupid.
It does work on cats. But I understand cattle prods work better.
I can't see myself doing it. It seems mean. I usually ask myself, "would I want my children doing that to my grandchildren?" Because they learn by example. And if there was a parenting method that we detested growing up, I try to break the cycle. Because it can be a cycle.
I think it is far better than putting hot sauce in their mouth or whatever. I usually just put my kids in the corner. They hated facing the corner. Worked much better than a regular time out in my opinion.
Youngest daughter made her kids "pick a square"
in the kitchen when they misbehaved. They had
to stand in that square, and ONLY that square,
until their time was up. 12x12, with no furniture
within reach. Worked rather well.
Water in the face? Not in public. And why would
the mother have the spray bottle with her, unless
she fully expected her kids to misbehave at the
store.
I think discipline starts at home. Never understood the behave better in public but do whatever at home mentality.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
It absolutely does! When the cat's, well, when the ONE cat, act up, all we have to do is reach for the spray bottle. She runs out of the room at lightening speed!
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America guarantees equal opportunity, not equal outcome...
Child abuse? Not. Dumb? Yes. Works like a charm on my dogs though, i don't even have to spray them I just have to pick it up.
It's truly awesome for dogs, especially for excessive barking. Like Vette, now all I do is pull out the little spray bottle and tap it to get their attention. I love that it doesn't involve pain! Just harmless water, but they don't like being sprayed.
