Originally Posted by mixedmedia

I have always found that depriving the child of whatever it is that they rely on most for entertainment is truly the best way of teaching them that there are consequences (for themselves) of their wrongful actions. You get fast results and good leverage for compelling them to listen to you.

I have also always been somewhat of a lecturer. I explain what it means to be a good and honest person. I explain how it feels when you know you've done right. How it makes other people feel when you do right by them. I use examples and anecdotes from their experiences, my own experiences and those I have learned from others.

Making them apologize when they have done wrong teaches them that they WILL be forced to surrender their humility when they do wrong to someone. This can be almost unbearably humiliating for some children. So you then explain to them that they better shape up if they don't ever want to have to do it again. This is especially effective when they have to apologize to strangers or in front of strangers.

Oh, and one more thing. About LYING. Kids lie because they don't want to get into trouble. And very often this becomes a HABIT. In which case they will lie even when they don't know if they will get into trouble - just to be safe. It's very, very common and it needs to be nipped in the bud.

Originally Posted by Ch'i

Its not how you think of it, its how they think of it. The two views are askew. Although, that you would compare dinner to television and video games is not a good sign.