Last week we brought you some tips on how to help your child with their homework. But how would you react if your child wasn't doing their homework, and as a result their school report was poor? Would you punish them? And if so, how would you do that?
All parents have their own way of disciplining their children, but whether you favour smacking, time out or the naughty step, I bet you never went as far as one mother in the USA did last week. She reportedly demanded that her son kill his own pet hamster as a punishment after his schoolwork grades were poor.
However, once the authorities heard about the incident, it seems that the mother will be the one on the receiving end of some punishment.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in Georgia reported that the 38-year-old mum, Lynn Middlebrooks Geter, was arrested last week after allegedly forcing her 12-year-old son to kill his pet hamster with a hammer. This was said to be as a direct punishment because the boy had earned a bad grade at school.
The next day, the boy told his teacher what had happened, and the teacher then reported the incident to the local social services. Child welfare authorities called in the police, and the local sheriff then arrested Geter. She was charged with one count each of animal cruelty, child cruelty and battery, and put in jail.
Parents know that restricting access to a favourite toy or activity is a major punishment for a child. But killing a pet? And worse still, making them do it? How is that going to do anything other than traumatise the child?
What do you think of this story? What's the worst punishment you would dish out to your child? Leave a comment below
Source [ParentDish US]