Punishment for my son. I need ideas!

Some_Watery_Tart

My 12 year old son has decided that, now that he's in 7th grade, he knows everything and no longer needs to do his homework.

Ok, not really. He's just doing that stupid pre-teen, hormone-driven thing where half the time they don't do their homework and the other half of the time they do it, but forget to turn it in.

I have taken away everything I can think of. The kid has no life anymore. I am out of things to take away unless I'm going to start denying him necessities such as food and shelter--which I haven't ruled out entirely if this continues. This kid just won't budge. So, I have decided that the next thing to try will be to show him what a lack of basic education will get him in life by forcing him to perform manual labor around the house for free. I am thinking I will assign 1 task per missed homework assignment on top of making up that homework assignment. In addition, 1 task will be assigned per class which has a grade of C or below.

This is where you all come in. I need ideas. What sorts of chores can a 12 year old boy do that will make him prefer to do his homework over performing that task? Here's my list so far:

1. Clean the dog kennel.
2. Clean the bathrooms.
3. Fold laundry (everyone's; not just his own).
4. Do the dishes.

Aaaaaaaaaaand.....GO!

FoxBean

I would totally make him wear bum outfits to school, until he starts doing his homework.

calibriintx

Take him with you to the drugstore to buy tampons. When you get there, tell him you're staying in the car and give him the cash to buy them.

HawkeyeTy

I would totally make him wear bum outfits to school, until he starts doing his homework.

Horrible idea.

sullus

When they were little, I would give my kids "the blackout" ... Nothing electronic (except a lightbulb) for x amount of time. Small things would get a 2 hour blackout. Big .. maybe even a 48 hour blackout.

Now that they're in high school, they dont get the WiFi password of the day until homework is done.

MiloBloom83

Send him to work for Nike in Malaysia. Or Vietnam.

randomtai

Monkey_Business

Have him pick up trash along a two mile length of road.

Then let him know since this is what he is aspiring to, he may as well get used to it now.

From that point on, give him the opportunity to do 2 hours of picking up trash or 2 hours of homework.

As a secondary affect, you get a four mile walk for exercise.

Did this for my son twice when he was 12, it solved the problem.

Just one old man's opinion..............

Mainebikerchick

Snow shoveling or any type of yard work....picking up sticks, landscaping, gardening, stacking wood if you have a woodstove

Washing the floors on his hands and knees with a toothbrush.

Scrub stains...hardwater stains, other stains that will NEVER come out, no matter what you do.

And then there's my personal favorite...picking up rocks from one place and making a pile in another. When the pile is completed, then it gets to be moved to another place to make another pile. Funny how something like piling up rocks sucks SO bad.

summertime_girl

At that age, I found taking things more effective. X-box, phone, laptop, whatever.

becky10rp

Make him listen to Justin Bieber and New Direction on a daily basis..............take away all of HIS music - ONLY Bieber and New DIrection.

Being a 12 year old boy - this might make him snap out of it....................

anj1030

My dad used to sit at the table with my cousin until he finished his home work. Literally sit there and stare at him...sucked for both of them...but it worked.

My cousin is a drug dealer now somewhere in Boston. Maybe this isn't a good idea. Never mind.

SunofaBeach14

How about setting aside a time for him to do his homework and helping him?

catfive1

Have you ever watched this episode of the Cosby Show?

http://www.criticalcommons.org/Members/fsustavros/clips/cosby-show-budget-example

Might be an idea.

The_Enginerd

So what the hell does he do when he gets home? Sit in his room starting at the ceiling?

fitfreakymom

Le t him pay the consequence for his actions, if he does not do the homework he fails, ge ts in trouble from teacher, no school danceect.

CallMeCupcakeDammit

I never had that problem with my son, but my daughter almost failed out of every grade between 6th and 9th. She didn't even care if she failed. I told her she would lose her phone until she graduated to the next grade if she got held back. This year she's in 10th grade getting straight A's. I agree with the "they have to learn" thing.

Chieflrg

How about setting aside a time for him to do his homework and helping him?

This is what I would do not knowing what truly is the underlying problem he is reacting to.

kristen49233

I saw a video on FB that showed a parent going to school with their daughter who was acting up in class--went to every class with her and sat thru each of her classes until she straightened up and started taking school seriously. How embarrasing to have a parent there all the time!

Don't know if you're in a position to be able to do that...but I sure wish I would have thought of that when my daughter was in school!

the_only_solution

My stepdaughter had this problem, and also outright lying about whether she did it. Kids gonna be kids!
Her punishment was carrying a 5 gallon bucket full (or what she could pick up) of rocks across the yard, taking them out and stacking them one by one, putting them back in the bucket, carrying it back and doing the same on that side of the yard, Her father sat on the deck and watched, occasionally yelling about her speed or technique. He told her if she was going to not work with her head to do what she SHOULD do, she'd be stuck working with her back to do what she HAD to do.
It took 2 sessions for a total of about 5 hours to sink in.

Before the DCS gets called, she got water breaks and such.

My husband also remedied HIS problem, which was not checking to make sure it was done. I think part of the humiliation of having to bring it and show him (not being trusted to do anything by herself) helped.