After being told all morning not to play baseball near the house, a small boy continues to play ball and breaks a window. Of the following methods of discipline, the one likely to be most effective in changing the boy's subsequent behavior is to ________.
A) punish him only if he fails to come inside and tell you what he just did
B) immediately take away his bat and ball and not let him use them for a week
C) immediately take away his bat and ball, then kiss him and let him know that you are not really angry
D) tell him calmly and firmly that he will be punished later in the day, then give him milk and cookies to take his mind off the upcoming punishment.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Taking away the boy's ball and bat and not letting him use them for a week is a clear consequence that directly relates to his behavior. It sends a message that breaking the window has consequences and that baseball must be played in a different area in the future. Option A might encourage the boy to lie about future misbehavior, since it teaches him he will not be punished if he confesses. Option C sends a mixed message since the boy might not understand he cannot play ball near the house but instead be incentivized to break a window for positive attention. Option D doesn't provide an immediate consequence or address the behavior specifically, and may even confuse the boy about the seriousness of his misbehavior.

After Being Told All Morning Not to Play Baseball near the House