Re:Taking Children Seriously
by hrktb on Sunday December 03, 2017 @05:13PM
(#15839940)
I think the point is to try to be the most honest and clear that you can about the situation and consequences.
With that you don’t need a hierarchy:
1 and 2 are the same, you just have shallower arguments in 2
3 is not an option IMO, it really should be 2: you can plainly say “I can’t explain, but that’s what I believe is right” and let the kid decide what they want to do.
This helps if the kid doesn’t take your side: if you’re not happy with outcome, there was clear a warning, making an eventual punishment more fair;
Or if they happen to be right, you don’t lose credibility as you were transparent about your standpoint and you can make it right to them.
With that you don’t need a hierarchy:
1 and 2 are the same, you just have shallower arguments in 2
3 is not an option IMO, it really should be 2: you can plainly say “I can’t explain, but that’s what I believe is right” and let the kid decide what they want to do.
This helps if the kid doesn’t take your side: if you’re not happy with outcome, there was clear a warning, making an eventual punishment more fair;
Or if they happen to be right, you don’t lose credibility as you were transparent about your standpoint and you can make it right to them.