Suitable punishment for nearly 5 year old DS? Help please

[pickie]

Am fuming and before I decide on a punishment I thought I ask MN as am so angry and might overdo it a bit with punishment!

So here goes. DS goes to a b'day party and present is a DVD of The land before time, however the boy already has got no 1 so offer to exchange it for a different version. I leave the DVD under my PC screen and tell him not to touch it (and certainly not open it)

This pm I ask if they'd like to watch a film and ask DS to pick one. Guess what he picks off the shelf, yes right, Land before time 1!!! Unwrapped, initially didnt realise what happened and nearly placed it in the DVD player thinking, O cant remeber buying this for and then it clicked. He saw look on my face and started to apologise.

I asked DD to choose a DVD, ignoring him and told him I would talk to DH about a punishment and let him know in a bit.

So what would you do? Make him pay with his 70P a week (would take 2 months) pocket money or something else?

So so dissapointment in the greed of DS, he has 6 DVD's in that series already!

The stocks - rotten fruit, etc.

I think you're overreacting a bit, tbh.

tell him to help about the house ie dusting and stuff he can do to earn the dvd

HM thanks for the reply reason why I walked away and said I would speak to him later was that I didnt want to over react and get a clear head.

I think a 5 year old should NOT take a DVD that is wrapped and sealed and take it, he was specifically told it was a present that needed returning. The pocket money is obviously too strong but he needs to know he just cant take things

he apologised immediately

does he really need a big punishment?

it sounds like an accident

taking his pocket money off him for 2 months is way over the top IMVHO

He immediately realised his mistake. And apologised.

I don't think a punishment is necessary.

Also, if you are going to punish him its really not kind to make him sweat it out.

I think you should explain to him why you are angry and what he did wrong, but it sounds as though he did it without thinking, not with malice.

All solved, sat down with him and talked about it. I asked him what he thought would be a good punishment and he said, I will pay for it with my pocket money. (very sweet)

So we agreed he would tidy up his room and dust it and we would put the DVD away for his birthday...

thanks for all the replies!

what would I do without MN!!

He's five, he won't fully understand that taking the cellophane off means you can't return it, or how much money it costs (and what that money means - £15.99 or whatever is just 'lots of sweeties' rather than .

It was naughty but not terribly dreadful for a 5yo IMO. So a telling off and an explanation of why it was wrong (inc. that shops won't refund on unwrapped DVDs) and maybe a mild sanction if you insist. But having to wait for the outcome of your wrath is probably punishment enough!

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Aw, glad it's sorted! He does sound lovely.

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yes he is (99% of the time)