UrbanBaby

06.25.08, 06:48 AM New York City
14 replies

wwyd - 5 yo's leapster broke - he had it for a while but i think he spilled juice on it - he wants a new one before we got on a trip out of town (and I would like for him to have it for our sanity) - I just checked out his piggy bank and he has more than enough in there to buy a new one - should i make him 'pay' for it with his own $? I think it could be a good lesson about taking care of his things (he really is pretty careful - this was an accident) or is that mean? [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
New York City 06.25.08, 06:48 AM Flag

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have him pay for half. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.25.08, 06:49 AM Flag

i would not make a 5yo pay for anything. they have no concept of money. i think it's ok to replace it if he's generally careful with his toys. or not replace it until a special occasion. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.25.08, 06:54 AM Flag

if it was truly an accident I wouldn't make him pay for it. If he was being neglectful and you had warned him on what could happen, then I would make him pay for a new one [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.25.08, 06:49 AM Flag

ita [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.25.08, 06:51 AM Flag

what is the goal of his "piggy bank" (ours is added up and then depositited into a real bank...we use it to talk about "when you go to college") and how is your financial situation, otherwise? [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.25.08, 06:50 AM Flag

we're not rich - we do fine; but i try not to be careful about what we spend on toys; eventually the piggy bank would be put into a savings - probably for him to use; he gets cash quite a bit from family so we just routinely put it in there. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.25.08, 06:55 AM Flag

I might have a teachable moment with him, in a nice way.....count out money from the piggy so he knows how much he has and how much a leapster costs, and maybe even go to the bank counting machines (fun!), as well. Buy it for him, since it was an accident.....and remind him that is why we don't have toys at the table or in restaurants because food and drinks can ruin them. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.25.08, 07:02 AM Flag

if it was really an accident and he is normally careful, I'd replace it [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.25.08, 06:52 AM Flag

accidents happen. I wouldn't punish for a true accident because he will be afraid when another accident happens. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.25.08, 06:53 AM Flag

OP: we were at a resturant and I told dc to be careful not to spill juice on the leapster - he was messing around iwth the juice - grabbing ice cubes out of it - and got juice on the leapster - and poof it didn't work anymore... [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.25.08, 06:56 AM Flag

np at 5, I would just talk to him about it and remind him how you warned him it might happen. Then make him wait til you are actually leaving for the trip to give him a new one. I doubt that $$ means much to him yet, but if he has to do without it for a while, it might make an impression [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.25.08, 06:58 AM Flag

are you an NYC mom? [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.25.08, 07:02 AM Flag

yes [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.25.08, 07:04 AM Flag

leapsters don't belong in a restaurant anyway. this one is your fault [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.25.08, 07:13 AM Flag