10 Classic Devices Used for Spankings

Even though it’s touted as corporal punishment these days and is severely frowned upon in terms of punishing disruptive adolescents, spanking wasn’t always so politically incorrect. In fact, for a long time it was simply seen as an effective form of punishment for wrong-doings that was the next step up after standing in the corner in time-out and grounding failed. And as crazy as it may seem, the kids seem to have turned out just fine later on in life – spankings and all – after all we’re talking about you and your parents here. And if regular spanking wasn’t enough, some parents even went so far as to get a little creative with their preferred spanking method of choice, keeping things… interesting.

1. Hand - Obviously the most common form of spanking, the hand has been used for ages in terms of inflicting punishment. Most people can conjure up the image of the child being laid out over the bed, waiting for a smack on the rear end. Not to mention, there’s no props necessary in this one, you already have everything you need.
2. Belt - The mere thought of Dad getting home from work, yelling at you to get downstairs, and then taking his belt off and pulling it through each belt loop is a scary one. Especially when it’s done slowly and deliberately, every second bringing on waves of panic. In fact, sometimes that thought alone is enough to invoke fear and good behavior all at once.
3. Paddle - Usually wooden paddles are the paddles that come to mind when you think of being “paddled” as a form of punishment. They’re usually about 3-4 inches long with a thin handle for gripping and quite scary when they’re brought out. The paddle was more commonly used as a form of punishment in schools than at home, and left angry red lines to remind the offender of what they did.
4. Brush - The back of a hair brush can be quite a weapon when a mom flies into a rage over a transgression from a child. Though brushes seem to be more of a ‘fit of passion’ type punishment instrument then something that people regularly used, it’s still quite an intimidating sight to see someone coming at you with a brush, especially if they happen to hit you with the bristle side…
5. Paint Stirrer - Those plastic, paddle-like paint stirrers with holes in the paddle part make a pretty brutal spanking device, especially as the holes suction into the skin as the inflictor pulls the paint stir away. You’ll be second-guessing any bad decisions if your parents decide on the paint stir as their method of spanking!
6. Fly swatter - The fly swatter is a tamer method of spanking because the actual head of the fly swatter is more flexible than, say, a paddle or paint stir. Even so, that doesn’t stop the sting when it lands across your hands or on your rear end.
7. Ruler - Another classic school-type punishment device, the ruler no doubt makes people cringe as they remember being swatted across their hands for doing something wrong. This method is sure to leave a nice line of red welts for hours after being put to use, thanks to the thick wood that makes up the stick.
8. Cane - Typically referred to as “caning”, this is another method that used to be common in schools as a type of punishment for offending children. Like using a ruler, it leaves a nice line of red welts across the skin and was more commonly used on boys than on girls. Some British territories still use the technique to administer punishment.
9. Birch Rod - This method utilizes leafless twigs bound together to form a rod and depending on how strong the twigs are determines the amount of pain the receiver can expect to encounter. Birch rods used to be soaked in either water or brine to make them heavier and consequently more painful. Using birch rods was also the common method of punishment in schools until caning replaced them in later years.
10. Switch - Similar to a birch rod, a switch is a type of wooden rod that is both sturdy and yet supple which maximizes its punishment effects. It’s also banned in over 25 different U.S. states because of how brutal of a punishment it is.

While spanking is looked down on these days, it once was arguably the most common and favored form of punishment for kids who broke the rules. Now this type of punishment is viewed as a type of abuse and can land someone in quite a bit of trouble if used. Whatever your views are though, it’s easy to see how the threat of being spanked effectively instilled good behavior in kids for many years.