Boy confesses to playing with matches

Not_Punny

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Maybe make him volunteer to work with me at one of the shelters where people have been forced to stay. Make him donate some of his favorite toys and clothes to those displaced by the fire. The trick is not to replace them right away.

When you look at the miles and miles of devastation there really is no appropriate punishment for a child so young.

Good suggestion QT.

Actually, the cruelest thing would be to NOT punish him. Gawd. The kid must be having nightmares.

If some dumb fuck adult DOESN'T punish him, the child will be haunted his entire life. In fact, if I were the parent, he'd be on a circuit visiting schools and shelters. The kid has GOT to help out or his conscience will either (a) disappear, or (b) crush him to death.

Not LETTING kids be responsible breeds a lot of wrong.

ACTUALLY -- punishment is the wrong word. The right word is: MAKING AMENDS.
 

dolfette

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...he's 10!
he confessed...that means he a) felt guilty and b) was ready to accept responsibility.

he's learnt his lesson.

it shouldn't be about revenge.

i say, give him the chance to make up or it in some small way.
a personal apology to those who lost homes.
weekends spent working for charity.
selling some of his toys and donating the money to those who lost.
pocket money going towards it too.

punishment isn't about making us feel better, it's about teaching the kid something. what better way than to make him help out in putting things right.