If this were a child who was already trained and had been for some time and then started pooping or peeing in his pants out of anger or manipulation etc (ruling out any physical illness or cause), then I would agree with you. But for a child who is not yet trained, I don't think they fully understand. They have always been allowed to do it before, why all of a sudden they are punished for it? I just think it sets it off on the wrong path. I agree with encouragement, motivation, pushing through positive ways (the parents could try leaving the child with no pants for a long weekend and watch like a hawk and get him to to toilet when he starts to pee etc). I just don't believe in punishing a child for something he/she has always been allowed to do and now that he is of a certain age he is suddenly not allowed to do and it becomes an issue of shame.