abusing his child is not the best solution for his problems, according to the Coalition for the Protection of Children's executive director.

Kit Swainson told The Royal Gazette yesterday that Khalil Tariq Matthews needed to be enrolled in an anger management programme or parenting workshop to deal with his problem. Matthews admitted to Magistrate Ed King on Thursday that he had lashed the legs of his five-month-old daughter with a belt after she vomited on him last November.

"We'd like to see (his jail term) be something productive so that he comes out of this a better parent,'' Ms Swainson said.

"The best solution is that he get some treatment during his incarceration, which makes more sense than simply incarcerating him.'' Commenting on the circumstances of the case, Ms Swainson said a five-month-old could not have understood Matthews' actions.

"The only thing a five-month-old understands (from a strapping) is that his world is not safe and that his needs are not being met,'' she said.

She said lack of understanding about the developmental stages of children was common.

"There needs to be more understanding of what children are capable of understanding,'' Ms Swainson said.

"We're concerned about the father acting as a disciplinarian. Discipline is about setting boundaries and guiding kids, not beating them.'' The Coalition and other organisations which come under the umbrella of the Family Resource Network offer parenting effectiveness training programmes for parents having difficulty dealing with their children, she said.

The airwaves filled with anger Friday as callers voiced their concerns on talk shows, saying that the six-month sentence, the longest that Mr. King could impose on a parent, was not long enough.

"The community seems to be very upset about this and that's a good thing,'' Ms Swainson said. "There seems to be an awareness of what is fair for children.'' The Coalition said it had received similar reports of abuse, which are reported to Family Services for investigation.