Hey that's amazing. It really accentuates post 36

Are you sure?

Looking back, some of my best memories were playing PS2 and gameboy and all that stuff growing up but when my parent's took it away, it really cleared my head and taught me a lesson every time.

The key on discipline is that it not be made so harsh that you can't follow through with it and don't make it so final that your kid's hope is squashed. Selling the device definitely squashes the kid's hope.

We recently bought my 9 YO daughter an iPod for playing games and downloading music because we're kind of sick of her taking our phones. We dangled that carrot for a couple of weeks as a motivator for her schoolwork (she's homeschooled). Then the wife gets a notification from ebay in the middle of the night that she had bid on on an ebay decorative cover. She woke the kid up and asked about it. Kid denied and denied. Lying in my house is an automatic beating, no questions. I don't tolerate it from anybody and definitely not from my kids. So, strike one there. She also bid a maximum of $100 for an item worth like $8 maybe. Strike 2. The device wouldn't even fit the iPod we bought for her. Strike 3. Her mother already told her "no"... Strike 4. She got the swats for lying. The iPod is also on hold for a while longer. We emailed the ebay vendor and explained the situation. They let us off the hook but we didn't tell our kid. She has to do chores around the house (outside the scope of her normal responsibilities) until she earns $100.

I don't know if we're doing everything right but she's a pretty cool kid most of the time. She communicates really well and she means well. We're pretty proud 99% of the time.

Yeah I think it really depends on how the kid reacts. If you are really looking for results, I think you need to figure out which approaches work best for each kid. I should say I'm not a parent, but I always just assumed this was one of the biggest hurdles in getting your kid to turn out well.

Applying methods that worked on one kid doesn't guarantee anything for another, especially once a personality is established. If the goal is results, and not just doing "what should have been done from the start", kinda need to know more about the kid. Then again, what the hell do I know about kids. Subbing elementary schools is the closest I have come to knowing.

If you have not taken a belt to him for first lying to you and stealing, blame yourself for his misbehavior because he has no respectable fear for his parent. Aftter that then you take it away. If you are one who doesnt believe in using the rod of discipline, dont worry you have either the police or another adult in his future who will use a gun to discipline him right to his grave. If he can't respect you now he will not respect others later.

I am going to assume you bought it for him, true? Am I correct in that you remarked he is "online" playing? If so here are some possible solutions. I agree that the kid is in need of attention. Offer to have his friend(s) over and go with them to Gamestop and buy some old used POS game that you approve. Don't approve the first one. Make them work for it. Also if he doesn't and you don't play Madden, buy it. An old one it doesn't matter. Learn it together. Let him show you things. Extend your jurisdiction into his realm. Don't allow it to be a separate world he can go to. Heck have him come home and you are on the Xbox! PM me. I did this and it worked....

Wow, thats pretty amazing. I dont think my 10 and 8 year olds have figured out Ebay yet or even know it exists.

Son: Dad where's my XBox?

Dad: It's in my bedroom. I stole it from you. See how that works?...

it ain't easy being a perfect parent, but somehow I make it happen :p

Seriously though, about all the parenting advice I could ever give anyone is be fair, be consistent, practice what you preach, and follow through. Start giving out idle threats or letting them get away with shit some of the time and they will have hope they can get away with it every time an opportunity comes up.

Really not a bad idea here if executed properly.

This ^

One question – after the previous 2 instances did you say something to the effect of “if you do this again, we will do X”?

Drive to a remote location about 30 miles from anything; make him walk home to think about what he did. ~

Needs a much harsher punishment. Kids not going to learn if you just take it away for a few weeks.