That commenter is overstating what would happen ("beat the ever living shit out of them" no.) However, yes, sometimes striking children was a way to create a mnemonic so that the child would remember what happened into adulthood. Usually it was a single blow. For example, if somebody was receiving property, they might take the child around to all of the landmarks on the borders of the property and cuff the child at each point. This way, the child would remember, even into adulthood, "my father hit me at this rock, it's part of my land."