My 12yo son had a friend over to play today. The friend moved my son's clock radio to the floor to use it to set up a play list for his i-pod. The friend broke the radio. It was an accident, but it was nearly new...and cost $60. How would you handle this situation?
P.S. For those who are saying the radio is too expensive...get a cheaper one...this one has an i-pod dock. I can certainly get a less expensive radio, but his favorite feature on this one is the dock that lets him play his i-pod through the speakers...beats the earbuds all the time...others can listen and it's better for his ears. I'm not asking about the price of the item...just what you would do. Thanks.
I agree with the others: if it was truely an accident, leave it at that. Also, maybe re-inforce with you son that when friends come over to play, he has to be in charge and look out for the welfare of his belongings. I would replace it with something much cheaper. :)
how did he break it? if truly an accident nothing to be done, things break. If he intentionally broke it then talk to the parents about it. Can get a clock radio for cheaper.
I'm with the people who say if it was an accident - not really much you can do about it. Honestly that kind of thing will happen. Now if your son wants the radio replaced, you can have him work off the cost.
Hi P.. If it truly was an accident then all you can really do is talk to your son about taking care of his things reguardless of what his friends may or may not want to do in his room/with his things. If you are going to replace the item, go cheap & heavy duty or have him do extra chores around the house to earn the cash to replace it himself. Accidents do happen, but parents are not MAC machines and money doesn't grow on trees!! Now is the time for him to begin to learn that lesson. Best wishes.
I would just chalk it up to an accidental thing.
I mean really, what are your options here? Tell his parents about it and hope they offer to replace? I don't think it's worth it. It may seem petty to them. As they say, "__it happens"!
It was an accident, too bad. You cannot ask his parents to pay for it, unfortunately. You can't make another peron's kid work off a debt to you either! I recently had a friend of my son's throw a football in the house and break a $30 lampshade. Oh well. Replace it and move on. (After the lecture to the kids of course!)
It wasn't malicious and it wasn't abused or mistreated. I'd let it go. If it was that new and poorly made then I would try to return it to the store for a better product.
It was an accident let it go. I would tell the son he has to take better care of his things. I think if you replace it it tells your son that it's ok to break things because mom will just replace the item. I think you should explain to him if he has friends over he has to put important things away or he can't have friends in his room.
I wouldn't ask the other child to pay for it. You can't expect another child to work something off just don't let his friends in his room if it's really that bad. I would talk to the other kids parents but don't expect them to pay for it. If it was truly an accident it's not his fault.
Good luck in whatever you decide to do.
Tell the Mom I know it was an accident. Explain to her that you think it would be fair if she paid for half of it. Right now,you are working part time and do not have any extra money. Say it in a way that does not sound defensive. it sounds like you are upset because it was new and it was sixty bucks. make sure to tell your son to be careful with his stuff also it is his responsibility even though what occured was an accident.
Keeping the peace is worth a lot more than $60 to me. If my child's friend broke something, I'd have my child pay for/work off/deduct allowance to replace it. It would teach him to be more responsible for the actions of his friends while in his room/house & appreciate the value of things. By no means would I bring this up with the friend's parents. No good could come from it. They might give money to replace it, but the child could end up losing a friend.
Things happen. Chalk it up to experience and buy a new radio == but not a 60.00 one.
P.
I think that since it was an accident, I don't think that the friend should pay for it. However, I do think that if the friend comes back over, both your child and his friend should be told about what is ok and not ok to play with. If they want to use the radio, then they need to ask you and you will set it up for them. Just my opinion but I hope whatever you do everything works out well.
L.
No matter what the item was, and no matter how much it cost, it was an accident and you need to send the message to your son that "things" don't matter by keeping cool aside from saying you wish it hadn't broken. Maybe you could send the message things aren't expendable by waiting a while to replace it, but then again, your son didn't break it, so that's debatable. He might learn to think twice before letting friends play with expensive things...for better or worse.
It's too late to try to extract and apology form the friend, and if he already apologized, you really can't do anything. If you can't afford a new one or feel you would like his mom to offer to pay for it-I think that's seriously iffy. It would be totally up to her to offer when she finds out.
If I found out my child broke something at someone's house I would IMMEDIATELY insist on replacing it, but I would think it was weird if they asked me to, especially if it was an accident. No harm in nicely letting her know it happened if she didn't find out.
If they weren't allowed to touch it, defied you and then broke it, that's a whole other matter, but if it just accidently got broken, that just happens someitmes.
I wouldn't do anything about it if it were me.
hi P. ,
100% do what DONNA said !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
children [ boys =men one day] must be explained too and directed ..
keep it simple .
a nice lifes lesson for the ' children' . you learned 1 already !
grammy
if it really was an accident tnen their really isn't anything you can do about it
Hi P.,
Maybe you should consider how you would want another parent to handle it, if the situation was reversed. Would you want to know about the incident? If so, then go ahead and let them know. Good luck.
Hi P.,
Set both children down and tell them. How you feel about the clock and that they need to be held accountable for the accident.
Tell them that you have set up an account of $30.00 each.
Tell them how they can earn enough money to pay their share back.
Teach them how to keep a record of their earnings and subtract it from their total.
How this helps. They do need to learn by their experience.
Good luck. D.
Things do break accidentally, but I don't think that means it should be quickly replaced. Tell your son that chores may be done to get a new radio/ipod and that he may ask his friend to help him if he would like. It's a bummer that it broke, but it shouldn't be your worry..it should be their worry. The boys should solve the problem together. It will teach them both values of friendship and responsibility.
Hi,
I have a 14 year old son and I know that boys when they play can break alot of things,Thats why I always tell my son to play outside.If it was not intentional then I would talk to your son and the friend and tell them that you were not happy about the broken thing and to make sure they are more careful or next time they will have to pay for it(It kind of makes them think twice )Or that they can only play outside.Even if your son was not involved with the breakage he is guilty by association.Talk to him privatly and let him know the value of things and to stay away from home furniture and to play with toys and be outdoors.But once again boys are tough on your home.
I once read this book and it said that "boys will reck your home ,girls will reck your mind" Good luck!
