I think creating a stong hold on a child is better done with out hitting. It is known that violence leads to violence. My wife and I have spanked our daughter, but now she is into her terrible twos. We find that when other kids are naughty, she finds it her right to spank them. So I developed a glare. If she is naughty, I can glare at her, and she will go into her room and on her bed untill i come in and get her. It doesn't work 100% some times I do have to speak, but it seems to get the authority point across better.

It seems to work. As far as actually hitting a child hard (or to inflict pain) I would NEVER WANT to wish that on ANY child.

Bipper