To want to go out an buy ds a new bike tomorrow because his was stolen today.

[christywhisty]

DS 12 rides bike to the station everyday otherwise over 20 minute walk.

But everynight he has to be nagged to put his bike away. He dumps it on the front garden then rushes in to go to the loo.

We live in a quiet cul de sac but usually lots of children around and we know all of them, toys are often left lying around all night and are still there in the morning

Unfortunatel tonight his bike has gone.

There has been a few other issues with loss of pe kits and other equipments at school as well.

DH says he has to pay for it, which will wipe out all his savings and he had just decided to buy an ipod.

I know he has got to learn not to be so careless and his is very upset about his bike, but he has done brilliantly at school this year.He will be House Captain next year and will be getting 2 awards at prize giving next week and has got really good exam results, also heard some lovely things about his behaviour when he helped out at cub camp this weekend.

AIU to want to buy him a new bike or at least contribute half.

I would buy him a new one, as an 'end of year gift for working so hard' but I'm a bit of a soft touch, or ,... let him buy his bike, wipe out his savings and then suprise him with an ipod???!!!! lesson learnt and both things obtained?!!!

I think 3Ddonut's idea is a good one. Wiping out his savings will teach him a lesson he'll never, ever forget.

Depends on whether you want him to learn the lesson that he needs to take care of his things, or learn the lesson that mum and dad will always bail him out, so he doesn't need to be responsible.

Yes, agree with 3d's idea. Let him buy the bike and then maybe get him the ipod at some other time as a reward for the good school work. Just don't let the bike and the ipod get connected in his mind or he'll be leaving the ipod around and it'll get stolen too.

Depends on whether you want him to learn the lesson that he needs to take care of his things, or learn the lesson that mum and dad will always bail him out, so he doesn't need to be responsible.

Yes, agree with 3d's idea. Let him buy the bike and then maybe get him the ipod at some other time as a reward for the good school work. Just don't let the bike and the ipod get connected in his mind or he'll be leaving the ipod around and it'll get stolen too.

I'd buy him the bike but not straight away. Firstly, I think some time without it would help him appreciate how much he depends upon it, and how it's in his own interest to look after it. Secondly, my niece had her bike stolen last year, and believe it or not it eventually ended up in the stolen bike cache at the central police station.

Didn't get him the bike, he is going to have to pay for it. I have reported it to the police just in case it turns up.

i woud go halves on the bike, if he has to save up more for the ipod because he was careless it will make an impression hopefully.

What about insurance - will they pay?

i dont think insurence would pay out as it was unsecured in a front garden.

i would tell him to replace it himself.

I definitely wouldn't pay the full cost of a bike for him. At 12 he is old enough to take responsibility for locking his bike up and needs to learn that actions have consequences. I might consider contributing towards the cost (no more than half).