The most appropriate way to punish children would depend on the age of the chilld and the stage of growth. For instance, teenagers could be deprieved of their playstation or grounded from going out, whereas this obviously will not work for pre-schoolers.
Whatever the punishment technques used, there are three cardinal rules to keep in mind.
The first principle is not to punish in anger. Taking anger out on the child does more harm than good. Related to this is beating and spanking the child. This is a strict no-no as a form of punishment and can cause more negative effects than good. Similarly, hollering and screaming at the child is also not recommended as it would have negative consequences.
The second principle is the converse of the first, that is to discipline the child with love, by making sure they understand what they have done is wrong and why it is wrong.
The final principle is to make sure the punishment fits the crime. The punishment should neither be too much or too little.