That's what parents these days are lacking imo. When I was growing up, my parents had a wooden spoon for each kid in the house(there were 4 of us), and if we really stepped out of line, we got one good whack with that. It took me one time of really messing up and feeling that stinging, and that wooden spoon never had to come out again. Empty threats won't work on any child old enough to realize that they're empty. Give them a good whack when they're out of line, and that's what will keep them behaved.