A. As used in this section, “child abuse” means the willful or malicious abuse which is defined as harm or threatened harm or failure to protect from harm or threatened harm to the health, safety, or welfare of a child by a person responsible for the child’s health, safety, or welfare, including but not limited to nonaccidental physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, or sexual exploitation of a child under eighteen (18) years of age by another, or the act of willfully or maliciously injuring, torturing or maiming a child under eighteen (18) years of age by another; provided, however, that nothing contained in this chapter shall prohibit any parent from using ordinary force as a means of discipline including, but not limited to, spanking, switching, or paddling.