[Aliantha]

I can't speak for anyone else, but I can't recall ever smacking my kids in public after the age of about two when a few taps on the backs of the hands are sometimes necessary when teaching kids 'don't touch'. I just found that by shortly after that age, my boys realised that they had to behave in public or they just didn't get to do stuff they liked. I know some people are against it, but when we went shopping for instance, my kids were always told that if they behaved themselves, they'd get a treat at the end, so rather than having to punish them, they were rewarded for good behaviour. Similarly in other social situations. If they behaved, they were rewarded and if not, they were punished. We've always had the same set up at home too, but no one's perfect. I'd rather they misbehave at home than inconvenience me and others when we're out (not that they're naughty kids by any means, but they're not perfect and I don't expect them to be).