We have four kids and we are strict with them. We use both spankings and loss of priveleges, and sometimes the behavior warrants both (like today I caught the oldest three in the boys bedroom closet tearing apart the bassinet we used for our youngest! Spankings and no tv for a week!!!)
We do not allow girls in boys room or boys in girls room, even though they are still young. We decided to establish that rule early, and until today, it is followed pretty well for the most part.
My kids are also spoiled to a degree. If we go shopping and they exhibit good behavior (stay close, hold on to the cart, no grabbing off shelves, no asking for what they see) then we MIGHT let them get something to take home for themselves. Sometimes it maybe a movie for them ALL to share or it may be a small toy. A 99 cent matchbox goes along way with my boys!!!
But say while we are checking out they start acting up. Then whatever they got is mine until they earn it back.
We get compliments on how well behaved our kids are when we go places. They say please and thank you and may I. They do talk back some, but there are consequences for that too! They KNOW they have to behave in a positive manner or they get spanked. I HAVE spanked in public. That is one nice thing about living in Ohio...SPANKING IS LEGAL!!!! AND if an outsider interferes with a parent disciplining their child it IS punishable by STATE LAW. As long as it isn't abuse, obviously. But say I give one of my kids a swat on the bottom in Walmart and another shopper gets upset...too bad!! I can literally have them arrested for interferring with disciplining my child.
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