Advice Needed.

[MiniB90]

Hi,

Seeking advice on something my family support worker has said.

So last month my 9yr old LB after smashing up his phone without me knowing and then finding out, decided to take his xbox one (Christmas present from last year) and threw it down the stairs in a tantrum and then chucked it out the window after because I found out and asked him about the broken phone.

So once he was in bed I checked to see if the xbox worked or not, which it does.
It's been sat in a bag under my bed since.

Today I had a phone call with my family support worker who told me that I should give the xbox back to my LB as it was his gift for Christmas.

Unfortunately I'm a single mum with a couple of disabilities and not on a great income.
I am worried that if I give it back to him he will break it properly next time.

My plan was to say I boughta xbox for the whole family to use, so he doesn't think it's his and he can break it and do whatever he wants.
It's made me feel really conflicted in what to do.

What would you all do if you child did that out of bad behavior?

Any advice would be brilliant.
Many thanks
Conflicted mum lol 😆

OK so leaving aside the fact he's clearly a very disturbed little boy, because I'm guessing you and your support worker are working through all that...

Don't under any circumstances us an electrical item that has been thrown down a stairs and out a window. It's not rocket science to know how dangerous that can be, whether it works or not.

I would get rid of it without hesitation.

He's clearly too young to own such expensive devices. I am not judging you for providing these things for him, but most 9 year olds are still figuring out self-regulation skills. He has shown you that he isn't mature enough to regulate himself without damaging expensive items and therefore, I would tell him that he may have them back one day, but not until he is able to look after his property.

He will live, I promise.