bombmaniac:
I would make my child clean the wall. I believe at 2.5, a child is able to wipe the wall with a shmatta (under supervision). He/she can clean up blocks, toys, etc. why not a wall?
Besides, is it not your fault that the newspaper is there to play with? You agree the child doesn’t know any better. Why do you think hitting will help it know better?
Once again, in cases of danger to the child, a preview of the hurt may be needed to avoid more hurt, but not because your wall looks dirty since someone forgot to put the newspaper, crayons, etc. away where they belong.