I would wonder why the parent isn't holding the child hand.

a mix of both really, I got the slipper a few times when I was very naughty. and only the belt twice

My alcoholic father beat me often, sometimes for no good reason...

You need to hold a child or be ready to grab him or her. Neither punishments nor lectures were very effective when I was 2-4 year old. Getting a wooden spoon usually didn't stop me from repeating something I had been punished for before.

The only teachers i was very good for were the ones that very strict final punishment being cane,, can’t remember anyone getting the cane but we all behaved

Because the 2 year old mind is capable of understanding consequences.

What do you do though Joey when that little person does it 3 days in a row?

It was more of a threat than anything.