Description of discipline technique:
I've got a small boy and I do feel that spanking is an acceptable form of punishment. BUT it shouldn't be administered as a "catch-all" form of behavior correction. It is a tool, like time-out, toy confiscation, etc., to be used to correct your child from bad tendencies. I think it should ideally be the last form of punishment followed, after the tears stop flowing, by a long talk about why it was necessary and why the child doesn't need to do it again. In Life there are certain penalties that are irrevocable; use spanking to illustrate that point. Basically, to teach a child, all you really need to do is get them to realize that for every action, there are consequences and for them to wonder whether the consequences are worth the action.

Appropriate age group(s):
1 1/2 to 18 years