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4 yr old DD just hurt the guinea pigs deliberately... how to punish her?

5 replies

summerymummy · 12/09/2010 11:50

Was feeding new baby yesterday early eve when I heard our two guinea pigs squealing rather loudly so ran to see what was wrong thinking the cat had got them or something and found 4 yr old DD sat by their cage admitting to squeezing them! Asked her why she did that and she said "because I don't like them". She has never shown any signs of not liking them before, usually just ignores them, I think she was just bored! I sat her down and tried to talk but not sure she was listening, then sent her to bed eary with no story but just not sure the message has gone in that it's not acceptable to be mean to animals, any ideas??

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LynetteScavo · 12/09/2010 11:54

I don't think you should punish a 4 year old for something they did yesterday. And it sounds to me as though she already had been punished by going to bed early with no story.

I would just reinforce verbally the need to be kind an gentle to animals, and show her how to treat them.

fuschiagroan · 12/09/2010 11:55

Do you think she could be jealous of the new baby, and taking it out on the guinea pigs since she can't do anything to the baby?

summerymummy · 12/09/2010 12:04

Yeah I have wondered if it could be jealousy over the new baby, she doesn't seem at all bothered by him or interested in him but could be feeling left out maybe.

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thumbwitch · 12/09/2010 12:09

Well I'd keep the guineapigs out of her reach for now! She might well be taking out her feelings about the new baby on the guineapigs but they're quite fragile for such big rodents and she could end up really damaging or even killing them.

I agree, I think you've punished her enough for yesterday's incident - if she really does like them, then putting them out of her reach would be a good reminder that she has to be gentle with them to be allowed to play with them - she has to earn back that right (by supervised play only - PITA for you but better for the guineapigs)

summerymummy · 12/09/2010 12:12

yep the guinea pigs are going to stay with my sister for a while just to be on the safe side. poor things

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