See, now?
Us Irishmen can't do that.  Could you see Moses going up the mountain, one
hand balancing stone tablets and a bottle of whiskey in the other, no hands
free to keep the mountain wind from blowing his kilt around?

Signed
Matt Mcmoses

The idea behind pattling children is to teach them that their are
concequences out in the real world.
If they learn early that their are concequences for actions, they will not
be surprised to have to go out and take responsibility for themselves.