It's better to keep our wits about us and calmly inform the child of a consequence that is meaningful and plausible and that can be carried out immediately after one additional warning. If you can't play with the other children without fighting you'll have to play over there by yourself. If the child doesn't comply action is taken without further fuss on your part. After a brief time, say 5 to 10 minutes, the child can try again. It takes time and inventiveness to come up with logical consequences and you're better off thinking about them in a quiet period rather than in the heat of the moment.
Physical punishment has no place in disciplining children.
Such punishment increases aggressiveness and causes fear and anger which can have lifelong effects. It teaches children that power is everything and their feelings of self-worth can be severely injured. Reprinted with permission from Jerry Van Tessel of the Batshaw Youth and Family Services Foster Parents Association Newsletter.