Should our 10-year-old contribute to replacing the broken car charge cover?

I wouldn’t make her pay anywhere near the full amount but due to the fact she was playing where she knew she shouldn’t, she didn’t tell you immediately and then sulked at the idea of a reasonable consequence then I would say something along the lines of half pocket money for the next month.

I would also make it clear that if it happens again she won’t get off so lightly!

Yes definitely. It was an accident caused by carelessness. I wouldn't phrase it as a consequence or punishment, but as an example of how we rectify mistakes we make. I would say she will be contributing 2 months pocket money, and point out that this isn't even half the cost which the parents are covering on her behalf. When the two months are up I would also ask her to explain what she had learned from this.

I think the difference is that she didn’t own up to it though (unless she hadn’t realised). I would probs dock 2 weeks pocket money

No. Your child had an accident. That’s just how life goes. You could have checked what she was doing and where.

While some consequence might be needed, I think you do need to be careful about if you are too draconian, she might not own up to things in future. I got into massive spirals of lying as a teenager (mostly about school work), because I was afraid of how my parents would react. And there were some breakages I never admitted to, for the same reason.

Extra chores. Not because she accidentally broke it, but because she hid it and then sulked at helping. It's the attitude that needs correction, not the mistake.

but they only way they learn to think logically is by practice and experience. Right now she obviously doesn't care that she did this. Has she even apologied?

Stop her pocket money for the remainder of the year. If she cba to be sorry or work it off then it seems fair. It’s not punishment, it’s making her responsible for her actions

Did you tell her to not play football by the car?

£118 at £5/week is not over a year.

Has she been told to not play near the car? If so, then while it’s technically an accident in that it wasn’t deliberate, I would dock a bit of money (not the full amount!!)

Also what do you mean she sulked off when you suggested she help around the house? Why was that allowed?

Children play. Accidents happen. They are part and parcel of family life.

What you need to address is not making your child take responsibility for an unforeseen accident, but the fact that she didn’t tell you about it. If your child is afraid to say “Mum, I broke the thing, I’m really sorry”, then you are going wrong somewhere and you need to look at your relationship.

She's a child, they don't always think logically.

I would be annoyed but I wouldn't make her pay.

Had she been told not to play football there? It may have been an accident but 10 is old enough to learn that you need to think about what you are doing and where and if you are likely to damage anything.

But it's an accident that has only happened because she's been playing football near the car? E.g. we loved playing with bouncy balls when we were little but we weren't allowed to play with them where they could bounce into the TV. If we had, it would still have been an accident but it would have been a preventable one?

No, it was an accident.

I think that would be diabolical to be honest. No wonder she didn't dare tell you if this is how you respond to accidents.

I'm conflict3d, and I am.usually the super strict one.

Firstly - how certain are you that she did it? Do you have a camera that proves it was her? Unless you are 100% sure then she shouldn't be paying for it.

Could her sulking be because she isnt the one responsible?

I think some extra chores (washing the car might seem appropriate as it's somewhat related) i.e. we can't get the car washed because the money has had to pay for a new charger cover (or similar) plus a period of no pocket money, given she seems to be unbothered by it. But I don't think you can leave her sans pocket money for the 23 weeks it would take to pay for it.

No, it was an accident

Yeah I'd make it clear though that half the issue is the not being honest about it. I'd dock half her pocket money for a year until it was paid off or 6 months no pocket money. Whichever she prefers. But id also be giving opportunities to earn the pocket money back through added chores etc or else she will have no incentives to behave until it's paid off. Guessing you cover toiletries and basics for her etc so the pocket money is literally toy/sweet money so doesn't matter if she goes without it.

I would make her pay some of it not because it was deliberately done but because of her attitude. She needs to learn to step up and admit when she's in the wrong not go sulking off.

No, she’s 10 fgs. Dock her one week pocket money and make her help extra around the house, but otherwise learn to accept that these things happen and will happen again.

I would assume this was done accidently?

There is a big difference in if she has done it on purpose or if she has accidently broken it IMO.

For an accident, I may dock some money for a couple of weeks just so there is a consequence of sorts. Again this would depend on whether she actually was sorry or not.