Ah ha ha Listless you bring funny memories.
As a child I used to do a lot of pranks!

And my parents used to scold me a lot but this just made me want to make even more and more pranks so scolding a child has the opposite effect. Children are stubborn and they always do the opposite you tell them.

Now I do realise this is not good thing to do so I don't do it. When people grow up they realise these things just aren't funny anymore.

"...so scolding a child has the opposite effect."
I wouldn't say so... It's depends how the child feel, if s/he feel guilty, so s/he won't do it again, but if s/he don't feel s/he did something wrong, then s/he won't afraid to do it again.

It depends what you teach your child, and if you correct explain him or her the situation, so s/he will understand that the thing s/he do is not right.

If taking the prank situation then of course scolding won't help lol, he probably knew it might happen, so just got ready for the scolding before doing the prank.
LoL People who suffer pranks will usually get angry and will scold...