Abstract
Care for the welfare of the youngest family members is one of the main goals of the legislator. A properly functioning family does not require state interference as long as it does not deviate from the generally accepted standards. However, if such a situation occurs, it is necessary to undertake legal mechanisms aimed at restoring the proper functioning of the family. Consequently, various branches of the law regulate instruments to help the family overcome the crisis which it undergoes. The article presents selected areas of civil law child protection referring to such issues as prohibi- tion of using corporal punishment against a minor and the consequences of its violation, other forms of abusing parental authority, as well as the regulation of certain relations between parents and children.