I'm agree with the statement "an adult can hitting their child" but make sure the punishment not hamful and pain.If we always hit them,they will become pasive or introvert person,don't have self confident,afraid to try something and grievance.I think the best way, we teach our children to have good behavior is we must be a good model to our children.We as parent need to show our love to them such as always hug and kiss them.Nowadays,enviroinment and friends have biggest influent on our children character, because of that we must treat them as friend.
Another method we can use to disipline our children is we can put them inside one room in one hour and give them some activity.We also can punish them such as ask them to do house chores example, clean drain,sweep and mop the kitchen and clean toilet.
Punishment is a difficult activity to apply for the sole reason that it requires wise judgement to suit the punishment to the demeanor.
Children as integral parts of a budding society are as a rule aculturized via the parent media whether directly or through surogates.
This process requires rewards {as your suggested hugs and kisses} and punishments as behavioural modifiers without which their assimilation into the larger society becomes an adventure in deliquency.
The prudent father and mother should firstly understand the background influences which affect their children and apply measures to guide {reward,} and correct {punish,} them accordinly.
The attempt to excise pain from punishment is alien to nature and is a direct reason why there is an explosion of violence, lack of respect,and so many other undesirable traits amongst children in these times.
to buttress the submission above, if one puts one's fingr in a cup or pan of hot water, obviously the reaction informs one to be wary when around hot water. This is a deterrent and evident every where in nature.
To conclude, man should reconcile himself to emploting those parameters in nature which aid his living in better security and contentment with all others. This begins from chilhood.