Is It OK

I have never taken food from a child. I make sure they eat first and do not make that part of their punishment. I do not want them to go to bed hungry.

What possible lesson could that punishment teach? I never did that to my children but I disciplined them so that the consequences were related to the offense. Discipline means teaching, much better than punishment. The only time a child should miss a meal would be if they forgot to feed a pet, then they would know what it is to feel hungry with no hope of getting food until the next meal.

Good question. I have never done this, as I'd be much too concerned that my daughter would be hungry sometime in the night, wake up and wake us up, and that we'd all have a horrible sleepless night! So I'd be interested in the answers you get. My parents tried to use this as a punishment for me when I was little. But my mum always caved in and brought my supper up to my room! (Much to my dad's frustration, lol!) Think I must take after her, as I wouldn't be able to do it either.

Hello, P1key! Our rule was that the four children had set bedtimes, appropriate to their ages at the time ... BUT they were allowed to read in bed as long as they wished! When they were tired, hey presto, they fell asleep! There's no way I could put my own light out without having a good old read first ... and I figure tiredness takes care of itself in the right environment. xxx

I've NEVER sent a child to bed without their supper!!! There are MANY ways to punish an unruly child that doesn't leave an empty tummy!!! I seldom lost control to the point that I had to even think of taking away a meal. When my step-daughter was around 3 we went through she didn't want to eat her meal yet she wanted snacks between meals. So, I'd put a plate of food in front of her & she had until her dad & I finished our meal to clean her plate or the plate was removed & the food fed to the dog. She got no snacks between meals...only juice. She almost always ate her food at the next meal. Her doc had suggested I do that so her refusing to eat properly wouldn't become a problem. Now, i have sent one or two to bed early. YES, it was lights out right away!!! NO, books were not allowed!!! What punishment is there to sending a child to their room with entertainment??? When I determine punishment is needed, I find a way to make them feel the misery they have been dishing out in my direction. Did the boss send you to bed without any supper???

I think that the only time this particular consequence (or punishment) would be appropriate is if it was related to what the child did or did not do that was unacceptable. For instance, I saw another responder say that if the child forgot to feed a pet, then this consequence would be appropriate, and I would agree with that. I also think that if the child refuses to eat his or her meal, then this consequence would be appropriate. If he or she was just generally being naughty in a non-food related way, though, then I do not think it would be an appropriate consequence.

I can't punish my kids like that. Partly because they wouldn't care if I did, also because my 11 year old thinks he's a teenager and, therefore, lives in his room anyway! The little one would either just fall asleep or sneak around to someone else's room! Saying that, I think that if it works, it's an OK form of punishment. I can't say I have need to punish my kids very often which is good.

hi pikey oh my my son was just here to return my debit card he u sed to deposit my one hundred dollars gift money i got, I have been down with the flu. I never sent him to bed without supper, softie me 'but I did send him to bed early a few times and let him read. he was never that naughty. He was a gifted child so always acted a little older and less naughty than most boys. I am an avid read in bed person myself so I could not do that to him either. also since til she was eight he had a y o unger sister to giggle and talk with. Most of the time when he was naughty was during the day time. I caught him once in t ime to keep him from giving his sister a new bu tch cut. He got the scissors tangled in her long hair and I hear her cry out NO no wo bbie no cut lisa's hair. so I ran and put a stop to it before it really happened. wow. so your wife sent you to bed early shame on you

I don't suppose it would hurt any well fed child to miss a single meal. My eldest wouldn't think it were any punishment at all if I used this method and he were allowed to read. It would be how he'd choose to spend his evening anyway!

Depends on how mad i am, if i am mad or pissed off.. i do immediately put them to bed - lights off and its up to them if they fall asleep right away or not. No books. But if i am not that mad and what they did is a bit light..then they can stay in bed, read or if my little guy since he cannot yet read, he can play a little bit just in bed till they fall asleep.

I don't think that it would be a good idea to send your child to bed without dinner. That would not even be considered a punishment they have to eat. I would never do hat to my child. But the other things, going to bed earlier then they're bed time, I would do that. If they like to read then no book reading time. I'd do the lights out right away.

I have sent my children to bed but never without supper, I would never be able to not allow them to eat a major meal. When they go to bed it is bed, no reading. Even at regular bed time we have story time before they go to bed, mind you my children are still young and do not really read on their own as of yet. I could not imagine depriving my child of food because they have done wrong, it just does not seem right to me