Sometimes there are such clear cut answers. This morning, Kenzie was caught sneaking a lollipop when she first woke up. We were still in bed, and before she came and got us, she ate a lollipop. It was on hear breath and in her hair. Luckily, they’re not very tricky yet. They do know they’re not suppose to take stuff like that without asking. Therefore, a logical consequence is that there are no other sweets or gum today. It’s especially effective when there’s a celebration or dessert on the horizon (which definitely isn’t every day around our house). I’m actually kind of cruel and try and make it a dessert day if there’s been a behavior like this. I want the sneaking, disobeying and trying to hide behavior to disappear, so I want the lesson to sink in. Another consequence I’ve had is “If it isn’t treated with care, you don’t care.” I’ve thrown away crafts or artwork because they’re found in the middle of the kitchen floor. There are so many logical consequences for a variety of situations. Sometimes the punishment isn’t so clear, but saying, “You’re grounded for life!” isn’t a punishment that is realistic or generally fits the behavior. Try and make your consequences make sense and reasonable.
