Please help me--Punishments

So I am sick (i caught what the kids had all last week), my brain hurts, and I am out of punishment ideas for my 7 year old.

The situation: He opted out of work at school, it was sent home and I got a call from the teacher.

Normally I would take away all electronics but I need more creative punishments. I was considering making him clean his playroom (we have a separate room for him because his toys are mostly choking hazards) and do sweat labor all weekend.

Tell me what works for you kids.

Oh and any games/ideas for teaching time management would be welcome.

 

If you want him to clean, I think scrubbing the toilet would be a good idea

 

Cleaning the trash cans both inside and outside. :bad:

 

I'd make extra home work for him too. Make the punishment fit the crime

 

I guess I'd probably go the natural consequences route and he has to get the work done before being able to do any of the "fun" stuff this weekend. So no going outside, no videogames, no playing, etc. And you may want to make sure you plan something fun so he sees everyone else having fun while he has to sit out and do his work. If I really felt like that wasn't enough, I may have him write a letter to his teacher.

 

Instead of punishment, how about giving him an incentive to complete the work? A prize, a special snack, a trip to the zoo, etc. I think the incentive method will work better in the long run than the punishment method, especially if this is a recurring problem at school. Associating punishment with school work will only make a child hate school work even more. If he saw every school assignment as a chance to earn something he likes, it will motivate him to do more and to be good at it. Isn't that what you really want for him? It's not important whether he finishes this worksheet or that worksheet. But it is important that he becomes self-motivated to learn. You may have to provide the motivations in the beginning, but once he gets used to the idea of always doing his best in school, he will set that standard for himself with or without incentives from you.

 

So I am a terrible mom and basically forgot to punish him all weekend. I was sick and the weather was nice so he basically played outside all weekend. I did explain to him he had to finish his work and he did have to stay in on Friday night to finish the assignments that were sent home.

I'll be better next time.

 

I don't think you are terrible- grace is good sometimes, too.

 

We like chores or essays for punishment. An essay would probably have been extra fitting considering the crime. )

 

My kids are not that age yet, but I don't quite see why punishment is required in this situation. If he didn't do work at school and it got sent home, he needs to do the work at home. Maybe the lesson would stick better if he missed something fun because he had to do his school work, but I don't know that I'd go out of my way to make it painful for him.

Anyway, I think it's just as well that you didn't wind up punishing him.

 

It's first grade. They are testing and learning the ropes. Don't beat yourself up! You can make him do it as soon as he comes home next time. No TV etc... till it's done and then he'll be motivated. My almost 7 yr. old works WAY more motivated from home than at school. No fun to be had till the work is done. You want to goof off? Sure, go for it, but don't even think about TV, DS or anything till the work is done!