[Alf]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

If that was the case then why wouldn't talking to them have exactly the same effect . Or is it just quicker / easier to throw a hand at them than have a serious chat? Unless we're talking about kids who aren't even old enough to talk? In which case there's really no excuse AT ALL for using violence.

I'd say difference is that they create different amounts of emotion in the child.

Smacking a child shocks the child, and they realise the seriousness of what they have done, while talking to them can go in one ear and out of the other, most children don't have a great attention span.