I think it is an easy question to answer, but is difficult to generalize, because each parent has his/her own view for disciplining and every child is different in his/her personality and behavior.

 For my experience, I have never abandoned my kids and still believe it is not an effective way to educate them.  If some parents want to do it, I recommend them that they should do it under close watch of the kids without being notified by them.

  In any case, you cannot control children for a long period.

 【講評】何か意見を述べるときには、反対の意見を持つ人もいるということを想定してマイルドな表現から入るといいですね。　他の意見があることを認識している、ということを先に表現しておくと、受け入れられやすくなります。とても良い構成の伝え方ですね。

　日本人は議論やディベートに慣れていないので、なかなか意見を言えない人が多いのですが、一方、いったん意見を述べるとなると、強い口調や一方的な言い方になってしまうケースもよく見受けます。

まずは話を聞いてもらえるような表現が使えることは大切ですね。

I don’t think it’s a common practice, but we sometimes hear parents kick children out of the house when their children misbehave.  “Abandoning” is a harsh punishment for children, so such punishment may be effective. 

However, if it is conducted in a forest, it can be dangerous as happened in the recent incident in Hokkaido where a boy was left alone and disappeared for several days.  In general, we sometimes punish children, but most parents consider their children’s safety as the first priority and do not leave children alone when they are not at home.

 【講評】日本では、外に置き去りにするという「しつけ」は、よく行われるとは「思わない」と意見を明確にして、でも家の外に出される場合があることを伝えています。効果的かもしれないけれど、危険なこともあるので、親たちは普通、子供の安全をまず考えますよ、という表現。

※アメリカでは、子供を一人にしてはいけない、という法律があるそうです。国が違うと常識も違いますね。誤解を招かない丁寧なコミュニケーションは大切です。

（１）To discipline children is an important task of parents.  Abandoning might be useful on the condition that safety of children is secured, and children can understand its meaning.

There was one incident in Hokkaido.  A father left his child alone in a forest as part of his discipline.  The child went missing though fortunately he was later found alive.  In this case, the child’s safety is not secured.  He might have died.  I believe the father should not have done that.  But I can understand parents are often worried what to do with children in terms of disciplining.

（２）I think how we discipline our kids is pretty much the same as other countries. 

Most parents would first talk to their kids about what was wrong with their behaviors, telling them “no more next time.”  If the talks fail, parents would become more severe and give them punishments.

Punishments vary from taking away their books, games, or free time to physical punishment such as spanking or knocking their heads.

 【講評】（１）北海道の事件とからめた意見です。”a common practice in Japan”かどうかについて友人はたずねているわけですが、Yes、Noで答えにくいときには、あえて答えなくても、このように違う方向から説明することができますね。(2)はほかの国と変わらないのではないか、という意見です。こんなふうに応えると、事件の報道で「日本って特殊？」と外国人から思われないですみますね。

　聞かれたことに真っ向から応えにくいときは、これらの例のように、別の角度から相手が聞きたいと思うことを話すと良いですね。そうすれば新しい話の展開も期待できまそうです。

（１）If I’m asked, I would say, “Yes, abandoning is a common practice in Japan.”

When I was a child, my parents sometimes did a similar thing.   Years later, I became a mother.  As I had been disciplined, I tried to get my children to go out of the house when they did something wrong.  That worked for my older son.  He soon began to cry and apologize and said that he would be a good boy.  However, it didn’t work for my younger son.  I unwillingly left him alone in front of the house.  He was silent.  I was worried and felt relieved when I found him just where I had left him.

（２）I would like to write about my regret of disciplining my two sons.  I could not control my anger when they made mess in the room with their toys, so I shouted them and ordered them to stand outside the front door at night.  If they had been like the missing boy in Hokkaido, something bad might have happened.  I think disciplining children is difficult for young parents.

 【講評】（１）自分の子供のときと、親になってからの経験、そして二人の子供の反応の違いなど、実体験に基づくお話は、説得力があります。(2)は自分の体験をもとに親としての後悔を語っておられます。このように、自分が経験したことは、自分の言葉で語れるので、人の心に響きますね。体験は宝です。たいへん良い例です。

（１）I think we don’t need punishment to raise children.

子供を育てるのに本当は、言葉で解決できるのが理想的ですね。そうはいってもなかなか難しいのが子育てですけれど。

（２）His father came back to the place where he left his son only a few minutes later.

本当にすぐ戻ってきたつもりが、子どもの行動は予期できないことがありますね。

我が家でも昔、何度同じことを言ってもルールを守らない娘を、父親が家から閉め出して、裸足でどこかに行ってしまった娘を私が探しに行く、という”事件”がありました。大事に至らず良かったです。　その父親は、昔、子供のころ、どんなやんちゃをしたのか、家の庭の木にくくり付けられるという「お仕置き」を経験したそうです。