What punishment works best for your teen?

[CJMickeyMouse]

He stayed out too late. She didn't get her little brother to practice like she was supposed to. Does anyone have any "creative" punishments that work wonders on their teens?

For us, the one that seems to be the most effective is making them sit with Mom and Dad at a school sporting event.

Now granted, my boys are not old enough to drive yet, or I am sure taking away the car would be a biggie.

Anyone else??

 

[doxdogy]

When our daughter was a teenager, one of dad's thirty minute lectures did the trick for her. Only for the simple reason that what took her father thirty minutes to say, I could say in about ten minutes.

 

[grinningghost]

Taking away the computer. Works wonders. Nothing else seems to phase her.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

No internet, no phone, no video games, no lunch money for the cafeteria. Depends on what they did. Actually had one give up a graduation party. OK he lost his temper and punched a nice hole in the living room wall. I told everyone why he couldnt go. This weekend in the hotel one ds decided to throw a pillow at another ds, well he missed and a lamp landed on my face in the dark. This has caused no lunch money for a week. I said, you have a job so use your own money. Or else I will make you something, forbid a hs kid brings in a brown bag. Good luck. You will make it through the teen years.

 

[ShuisFan584]

My parents would take away the internet, since we're always online and talking to friends.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

What works right now on my (almost 13yodd) teen is not talking on the phone to her BF. Or for the big things I ground her from the local dance at City Hall (once-a-month).

OR....

If I need to take a "proactive" approach I will not allow her to not ride the bus to/from school (did that for 2 months, btw).
OR my newest threat that I WILL come to school and eat lunch with her.
(Bwaa-Ha-Ha)

 

[Dan Murphy]

Nothing 'really' works.

 

[caitycaity]

i would agree with dan.

 

[always quiet]

I guess it all depends on the situation....like if it's a bad grade in school, I take away what means MOST to them (like for oldest DD, it would be the phone , DS, it would be computer/video games ) and not allowing them the privledges back until the grades are brought up. If they are mouthy, then it would be work around the house, a chore not normally assigned to them.

I really miss the days when a "time out" took care of most problems. For parents with younger ones reading this thread, a had a nice punishment for times when 2 of the kids would be fighting. It was a twist on the time out. I would make the kids face each other and hold hands for 10 min. Everytime one of them would complain or they would start to bicker again, I would add 5 min to their time! They learned to work together relatively quickly!!

 

[Feralpeg]

I guess I'm lucky. When DD does something wrong, all I have to do is let her know that I am disappointed in her behavior. She crumbles. We are very close. She wants my approval more than any physical thing she has or wants to do. It works out great, because she doesn't disappoint very often.