Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

What’s a sufficient punishment?

34 replies

Annoy · 07/04/2021 18:00

For an 11yr old and a 7yr old who decided to put lego on the glass door of a wood burner and completely intoxicate the living spaces of the house? Not sure whether the glass is damaged yet as too hot to clean.

They’re currently in their rooms thinking about what they did 🙄

OP posts:
SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 07/04/2021 18:07

Would someone from your local fire station give them a full-on lecture on fire safety?

RiaOverTheRainbow · 07/04/2021 18:08

Assuming they were being silly rather than malicious I don't think I'd punish them, though I would drum in how dangerous it was and make them clean it up.

PhilCornwall1 · 07/04/2021 18:09

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius

Would someone from your local fire station give them a full-on lecture on fire safety?
Definitely this. Makes you wonder what fumes it was kicking out too.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

11 year olds 7 year olds
sadpapercourtesan · 07/04/2021 18:10

Probably a long, boring lecture about how dangerous and irresponsible it was, followed by the older one scrubbing it off and the younger one helping me with another tedious cleaning task.

I'm not a fan of drawn-out or unrelated punishments. They achieve nothing.

stayathomer · 07/04/2021 18:10

I'd agree to give them a talk on how dangerous it was, I'm not sure it's a punishment situation, if it's about danger it might just be better to have a discussion

AnImposter · 07/04/2021 18:11

Yep. I'd find some boring online fire safety course for kids and sit them down. Grin

WorraLiberty · 07/04/2021 18:12

I'd be more inclined to email the fire station and ask if they have any suitable fire-safety links to show your DC.

Also, their punishment would be cleaning it off.

Original poster
Annoy · 07/04/2021 18:12

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius

Would someone from your local fire station give them a full-on lecture on fire safety?
That’s a good idea!
OP posts:
Original poster
Annoy · 07/04/2021 18:13

@RiaOverTheRainbow

Assuming they were being silly rather than malicious I don't think I'd punish them, though I would drum in how dangerous it was and make them clean it up.
It was more curiosity than malice. They’re good kids who do stupid things every now and again
OP posts:
Hoppythehippo · 07/04/2021 18:14

Have you previously told them not to? I’m not sure I’d hold my seven year old in particular really responsible if not, it’s the kind of thing they do because they don’t really have the life experience to think through consequences. They’d get a big lecture about safety and they’d be helping clean it up.

Original poster
Annoy · 07/04/2021 18:14

That was my worry, and half the reason why they’re in their rooms.

OP posts:
Original poster
Annoy · 07/04/2021 18:15

@sadpapercourtesan

Probably a long, boring lecture about how dangerous and irresponsible it was, followed by the older one scrubbing it off and the younger one helping me with another tedious cleaning task.

I'm not a fan of drawn-out or unrelated punishments. They achieve nothing.

Neither am I really. But I’m not used to them doing something this stupid
OP posts:
Original poster
Annoy · 07/04/2021 18:17

@Hoppythehippo

Have you previously told them not to? I’m not sure I’d hold my seven year old in particular really responsible if not, it’s the kind of thing they do because they don’t really have the life experience to think through consequences. They’d get a big lecture about safety and they’d be helping clean it up.
She burnt her chin on the glass once, seeing how close she could get her face to it! 🙄
OP posts:
Soubriquet · 07/04/2021 18:18

Oh god I did something like this...

A piece of plastic on the glass of the fire which melted slightly

I panicked and pulled it off and then attempted to clean it once the glass was cold

Never did get the mark off.. but I didn’t poison anyone with toxic fumes

Original poster
Annoy · 07/04/2021 18:18

I’m going to find a video on how quickly a room goes up in flames

OP posts:
FreudMayweather · 07/04/2021 18:19

I'd be more concerned that a 7 and 11 year old can be sufficiently close to the wood burner to enable this to happen. Particularly as their curiosity seems to have outweighed the element of danger.

sadpapercourtesan · 07/04/2021 18:20

4I'd be careful about scaring the shit out of the 7yo, you don't want nightmares. You have my sympathy though, kids can be so utterly mutton-headed at times, it's difficult to know where to even begin with a response.

FreudMayweather · 07/04/2021 18:21

And even more so given your update about the 7 year old injuring themselves on the wood burner previously.

Hoppythehippo · 07/04/2021 18:22

Kids do stupid shit. They get bollocked, their parents are grateful they didn’t burn down the house and the kids generally grow into sensible adults.

It does sound like you need a fire guard or more supervision or something though if your kids keep messing with it. I’d be blaming myself too if they’re repeatedly getting that close to an actual fire....

Original poster
Annoy · 07/04/2021 18:32

We’ve had the burner since before they were both born, had a guard in the toddler years but haven’t had any issues at all until dd was 5 and she burnt her chin. She learnt her lesson, or so I thought until this incident 2 and a half yrs later.

I don’t think a guard would be necessary nowadays as they ‘should’ know better, and have been taught about the dangers. This time they were stupid, so need a sufficient punishment.

But yes, I don’t want to give the 7yr old nightmares as I used to be terrified of the thought of the house burning down!

An good school friend lost 2 of her young children, her young nephew and her adult sister & husband in a house fire a few years ago. It’s devastating.

OP posts:
RunningFromInsanity · 07/04/2021 18:36

A few chores and a lecture on fire safety should be sufficient.

I would be more disappointed in the 11year old who really should know better.

Bumpinthenight · 07/04/2021 18:45

I'm a big believer of natural consequences so maybe the fire doesn't go on until you are able to sit with them. You obviously can't go and get a drink etc with them in the room so they will have to leave everytime you do or get it for you.

To be fair the noxious fumes might well put them off doing something like this in the future.

jessstan2 · 07/04/2021 18:47

That's how I would deal with it. As long as they are suitably chastened and realise how serious it was, I think that would be enough. They are not going to do it again, that's for sure!

RandomMess · 07/04/2021 18:48

No lecturing

Get them to do a project on fire hazards in the home Wink

Original poster
Annoy · 07/04/2021 18:51

@RunningFromInsanity

A few chores and a lecture on fire safety should be sufficient.

I would be more disappointed in the 11year old who really should know better.

I am and he knows it!
OP posts: