Would you go easier on your child if they admitted they did wrong?

Question

Last week my six year old son, stole some money (five dollars) from his grandmother. He could of gotten away with it, but his concious got the best of him, and he admitted it to his father and me. In a way we were glad that he admitted what he did and wanted to make it right. In another, we thought he still should be punished for what he had done. This was the second time he had done something like this. My husband ended up given him a spanking, to show him there are always consequences for your actions. He told his Grandmother he got a spanking and she could not beleive we would do that, after he admitted it. So my question is are you easier on your kids when they admit what they have done, or do you think they should still be punished the same?

Answer 1

The Honesty He showed should give him the opportunity to decide what his punishment is.  Show him he still needs to be punished but he's acting grown up enough to choose what.( give him until bedtime to decide or one will be chosen for him. Less than if he was caught spending it.)

Answer 2

i wouldn't say a spanking is the way to go, but yes, you should still punish him, because he might get used to doing these things, and then if he admits he did wrong everytime, he'll know that it will be less punishment.  so, still punish, but depending on the circumstances, you should take something away from him, or not let him do a favorite activity, or something that hurts more than a spanking.  it will just teach him violence is ok if that is the punishment he receives everytime.  and taking something away might catch him off guard and maybe h**l think next time!  good luck!

Answer 3

Kids need to know there are consequences to their actions, but I don't know that I would have spanked him.   And, thinking about raising my son, I would have probably talked to him about what he had done and explained why it was wrong.   I might not have punished him.   I just don't know.  It has been a long time since he was young.   Actually, punishing them in some fashion is probably the right thing to do.

Answer 4

No. because if you punish your kid for coming forward and admitting to you he did wrong, he will not tell you again.

He already knows it was wrong, (that is why he told you).. so you do not need to punish him.

If it were my son, I'd just tell him, 'DON'T DO IT AGAIN OR THERE WILL BE h**l TO PAY!'.