I've only ever smacked my DD a handful of times. And always it has been something that has been a dangerous situation, such as running out in front of traffic or going to touch a hot bbq plate - I'd rather her feel the pain of my hand to her bottom than get hit by the car or cop a serious burn to the hand. Immediately afterwards though, was the lesson on *why* it was so important that she listen to me, and the fact that it was so rare that I would smack her really drives it home to her that oh geez, Mum's deadly serious about this...

I don't believe it works as a regular discipline tool (how many times do we recall either ourselves or friends/relatives getting the wooden spoon broken across our backsides and still going "nyah nyah, didn't hurt"?) or for children older than about 4 - an age where it's a lot easier to reason with them or use other age-appropriate methods. I also really hate the use of the threat of a smack as a way of getting compliance as I think it leads to a child behaving out of fear of the smack rather than a desire to please.