So does a swat on the a$$ from Mom or Dad.
Heh, works every time! Does a nifty job of 'breaking the pattern' so that you can get the kid's attention, get right down to eye level and 'explain the situation'. ;o)
I have a friend who pinches the sh-t out of her 5-yr. old when he acts up. She pleasantly smiles and reaches out to him while he's running wild. It stops him in his tracks!
Another attention grabber is cold water in the face.
That will stop a hellion in her tracks.