Kelly Clarkson admits she smacks her children when she needs to bring them into line

Kelly Clarkson has admitted that she smacks her children to discipline them.

The former American Idol contestant revealed that she has no problem with a little corporal punishment if they need to be brought into line.

While speaking to Atlanta Radio station 94.1, the singer shared: "I'm not above a spanking, which people aren't necessarily into.

"I don't mean hitting her hard, I just mean a spanking."

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She added that she didn't just spank her children out of the blue.

It comes with a warning.

“I’m like, ‘Hi, I’m gonna spank you on your bottom if you don’t stop right now. Like, this is ridiculous'," she said.

The 'Since You've Been Gone' singer said that her parents enforced spanking when she misbehaved, and she 'turned out fine'.

However, the talk show host noted that corporal punishment isn't for every parent.

"That's a tricky thing, when you're out in public, because then people are like, they think that's wrong or something, but I find nothing wrong with a spanking," she added.

While enforcing physical punishment has been a contentious issue among parents over recent years, the UK government weighed in after rejecting calls to ban smacking last month.

Many took issue with the decision not to specify the form of child abuse as an illegal act in the country.

Physical punishment against children is banned in Wales, Scotland and Jersey.

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The NSPCC and Barnardo’s Children charities have said England must follow in their footsteps, as per BBC News.

According to the outlet, while the government confirmed it wouldn’t change its stance, a Department for Education spokesperson said they ‘do not condone any violence towards children and has clear laws in place to prevent it’.

But many advocates are now speaking out against the government's decision.

NSPCC chief executive Sir Peter Wanless said: "It cannot be right that in this country it is illegal to hit an adult, but equal protection is not given to a child.

"We need put the wellbeing of children first and bring an end to this legal anomaly."

According to an NBC News report, in the US, corporal punishment is legal in every state except for Jersey and Iowa.

However, just like in the UK, if physical punishment is implemented, it must be 'reasonable' or 'not excessive'.

A 2016 study by the University of Texas and the University of Michigan looked at the long-term effects of physically disciplined children.

The research found that smacked children were 'associated with more aggression, more anti-social behaviour, more externalising problems, more internalising problems, more mental health problems, and more negative relationships with parents'.