Make sure to use it immediately and as unemotionally as possible. Rewarding a child's good behavior is MUCH more effective than punishing bad behavior. Trouble-shooting Difficult Behavior Issues Watch what happens just after a problem behavior. This can give you a clue as to why she does this so often. Find out what is punishing and what is rewarding for YOUR child.
Punishment is whatever works to stop a child from misbehaving.
Reward is whatever works to get a child to behave well. Even if a child does seem to want to avoid a spanking, it is often the parent's anger or disapproval that comes with the spanking that is really the punishment for the child. Find what does motivate your child by watching what causes him or her to react.