Harshest method used to discipline kids?

First of all, you have to had raised children to be able to answer this question with any accountability. A lot depends on the child age and the crime. Certainly you don't want to harm your own kids, but on the other hand, you must get they attention, you don't want to lose them to drugs or dropping out of school and etc. I found that just having them go get the belt works great even if you don't use it. I know my Dad used his, and as a adult now I appreciate the love, time and efforts he made to keep me headed in the right direction. Without discipline and responsibility you learn how to be a follower not a leader. Your kids come with no instruction at birth, so you do the best you can. It's really simple. You lead by example and they will turn into you.

Teaching simple principles like respecting elder's, simple yes sir and no sir, don't speak when adult or talking and close family goes a long ways. With proper examples like coming home at night sober, and not having affairs, and being there for them go a long ways.

You put in the quantity time and lead by example, be there for them at all of there life's events and maybe coach a team, take them with you when you go places, raise them yourself, go fishing, camping, golfing and above all go to Church, nothing wrong with learning how to love. Golden rule and 10 commandments can go a long way.

This is just one hard working man's opinion. I am a proud father of three adult kids who all bring solutions to the table and not problems to society. I am very proud of all three and only hope that I can be so lucky, to see them grow up and do better than me, and live long enough to spoil my grandchildren and watch them pay back my kids for there raising!

I think it depends on the severity of the action and the age of the child. I mean are we talking about getting a spanking that stings a litte, or one that leaves a bruise? Are we taking away Barbies for the night, or car keys? Are we grounded from Saturday morning cartoons, or no car for the week so you have to ride the school bus?

From a former scared child, who laid awake at night in fear of all sorts of goblins, I would surmise that threating children with the Boogeyman is far worse than any other option. The prospect of some malformed, sweaty, lazy-eyed psycho coming to steal them away as punishment for not cleaning their room is probably more than most kids could stand. I'm about to wet my pants just thinking about it....