Punishments for a first grader and up

What are your go to punishments for your kids? I ask this as I just cleared my sons room of every single toy other than books and Legos because he refused to clean up. He wasn't even sad.

Re: Punishments for a first grader and up

Ugh. I hate the cleaning drama. EVERY weekend of my life is a battle to get my kids to clean their playroom. I try and have them do a little each night but it never happens. The only thing that works for my son is taking away his ipod (generally for a few days). I just wish for once I can ask my son especially to clean up and he will just say OK mom and do it! I HATE that I become a nagger. I feel your pain.

Re: Punishments for a first grader and up

A year behind, and the only thing that has good control over him is threatening to not let him use the IPad.

I say it all week long to him and it keeps him in line to do what he needs to do.

Also will tell him I will text his grandparents and not let him use theirs either.

FTR, we don't really let him use it at all during the week. Sometimes his grandparents will after school.

Punishments for a first grader and up

I say this as a teacher and not a parent b/c ds is a toddler. However, try focusing on the positive. Visual rewards help. Find a jar and get marbles/sticks/pom-poms, etc. Praise the good things you see. Start small. "Thanks for putting your toothbrush away." Then put something in the jar. Good behavior...things go IN the jar, bad behavior...things come OUT. I try to let them EARN what comes out back. Then have a leveling system. A quarter of the way filled or 10 sticks in, go for ice cream. Half way, go to the movies, 3/4s filled, another reward, etc.

There are tons of ideas on pinterest if you search positive reward system or behavior jar.

Re: Punishments for a first grader and up

I agree with all PP. It may be in your approach. Focus on positive. Make it fun. He is still very young and not going to do things (like cleaning) the way you do. Lower your expectations. Also the threatening to throw away toys never worked bec i didnt follow through so be consistent!

My threats have always been no screen time and no treats.

Punishments for a first grader and up

No tv, I used to take away the toys but he gets over it easily. He's a hard kid to break, he's frigging stubborn like his mama! He doesn't play with video games or have an iPad so I don't have that against him. I do threaten to tell his Kung-Fu instructor which is probably the most effective! He can't go to his next rank if he is not being good at home and school.

Message edited 10/17/2014 1:21:39 PM.

Re: Punishments for a first grader and up

They have to earn play dates with friends. They are taken away (birthday parties also) if they misbehave.

Punishments for a first grader and up

No TV or iPad. He cares immensely about both!!!

Also, he's crazy about ice pops. So no ice pops are punishment as well.

He's 7 and a half, and honestly he hadn't been punished since he was 6. He lost TV for 2 weeks, and now the threat works wonders!

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Mine is 5 and in K - the only thing that really bothers him a lot is taking away the electronic crap - iPad, TV, XBox ..........

I really really hate to punish by taking away things like sports, playdates and birthday parties for his friends/family b/c I personally, think that time is important for him, and me - to see how he behaves socially -

that other crap ..........is just crap - but he still LOVES it .....

Re: Punishments for a first grader and up

TV
Internet
Video games
Time out really does not work anymore. But removing the above for a specified length of time usually helps.

Re: Punishments for a first grader and up

Re: Punishments for a first grader and up

Thanks all. He does "lose electronics" but doesn't really care because the movie is in his head anyways lol.