Is this how to parent?
 

Saw this in a thread over at AK and was wondering what you cerebral types though?


http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/bes...rrests.kid.cnn


Let's just say I stood alone on AK in my views.

Sorry, Noone, I think it was a creative intervention. You can't always keep harmful things away from kids. Five years old is not to old to learn about making choices. Fortunately, he did not learn the danger of fire by being injured himself, but fear can be a good teacher. From what I saw, the interaction with the deputy was not hostile, but informative. Apparently the officer explained some of the potential consequences to him. It does not seem to be done in a way that would cause him to particularly fear or disrespect law enforcement. At this point, his parents don't have to worry about him finding matches or a lighter. He knows what choice to make next time he is in that situation.

I do agree with you that some of his behavior probably stemmed from his receiving recognition for his past involvement with a fire, and I'll bet he is bright enough to now make the distinction between reporting a fire and starting one.

Regards,

D-Ray

Then as you say counselor we disagree.

I can see no reason for a kid of five to have access to any kind of fire starter.

This is a case of reactionary parenting instead of simple common sense. IMHO of course. :)

Shoot, I wasn't supposed to answer anyway. You wanted opinions from the cerebral types.:eek:

Regards,

D-Ray

what do you think of this one?

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/sho...d.php?t=300302

Saw the original thread, could not get the link to work, so forgot about it.

It goes like this.

A five year old sees a fire and runs to tell people. He is made a hero by the community afterword. He is given an award, he gets a tour and ride on the fire truck etc.

So the same 5 year old now continually attempts to set fire in his room. (wanting a repeat of the adulation he received the first time he reported fire)

His mom comes up with an idea to "teach" the kid. She has a sheriff come to the home and mock arrest him. Handcuffs, back seat of the cops car and all.

A neighbor sees this and snaps a photo feeling this may not be the best way to handle this situation.

So now the discussion is was this a wise approach?

Overwhelmingly folks think this is a great idea and that the neighbor should not have butted in.

My opinion is that the parent simply needed to keep fire starters out of the reach of the 5 year old and all this drama would have been avoided.

And then he goes to a neighbor's house and finds a lighter or matches.....

The "visit" from the Officer will probably stick with him for a while, maybe long enough for him to develop better judgement.

(The neighbor with the camera needs to kind her own business.)

Don't agree with all of the hard-liners there, but I do believe that the daughter should have complied with the request to turn the music down. She should have learned that by example, a simple matter of common courtesy. I also have no problem in providing offspring with the reasoning for a decision when they ask. They need to learn to make decisions, and explaining the decision making process gives them an example - even if they don't agree with the reasons.

Regards,

D-Ray

I wholeheartedly agree with mom.