My Mom used to spank me with a wooden spoon on my buttocks. I'd take the belt (which was my Dads choice of punishment) any day over the wooden spoon. They really sting!
My Mom, from Ireland, had a flat, wooden hairbrush. Dad used the belt. I have a 4 an 6 year old now and merely mentioning a "belt swat" sends them into tears. I've only used it once. Now, I don't know if I'll ever use it again. Thankfully, the 4 year old can't read and while the 6 year old is an incredible reader, she doesn't read FreeRepublic--yet. ;^)
Yep wooden spoon from Mom....size 13 tennis shoe from Pop...spoon was worse.
Yep, wooden spoon or wooden paintstick (yyy-ouch!!) was the mid-grade punishment (above hand-to-backside, but below the 'capital punishment' of the belt, administered by Dad....but only meritted once or twice).
Yeah, but it's a good idea, hard to argue a wooden spoon is a deadly weapon. I'd like to be the lawyer to defend that one.