Is it wrong to threaten kids with dinner?

[the game]

So I'm at my nephews football game and some kids were playing behind the bleachers. One of the kids uttered a profanity word and his mother heard it. She yelled at him and said if she hears the word again that he wouldn't be eating supper.

I'm not a parent but I think that's a bit much. I know there's parents on these forums. Do you threaten your kids with supper? What is normal punishment these days?

[Tennis]

Sounds like poor parenting.

[Xandrigity]

I probably wouldn't do that as a parent. I usually take away a privilege, like tv, computer time ect.

[PosPosPos]

I believe there's an article somewhere that things that are required for survival should not be used as tools of reward/punishment.

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No, I don't use that as a punishment. However, I do tell my kids they will eat their veggies for breakfast if they don't eat them at dinner.

This seems more like a reward than a punishment.

[Revi]

Take away something they enjoy, not something they need, imo.

[Crissi]

Eating is KINDA essential do it shouldn't be used as a punishment. Although I do like winters idea. " if you won't eat this now, it's the only thing you'll have for breakfast".

[Odobisean]

I don't really see anything wrong with it, and it's not like missing out on one meal will harm anyone. At least it is a somewhat real punishment instead of the parent just sitting back and letting her child grow up to be an ill-mannered knob.

[Donald Hellscream]

Its not like they are gonna die if they go to bed hungry. Although it may be a bit harsh.

[timberx]

No, I don't use that as a punishment. However, I do tell my kids they will eat their veggies for breakfast if they don't eat them at dinner.

I've never understood the stereotype that kids hate vegetables. I love broccoli and spinach, even as a kid I loved them.

[Endus]

Taking away their dinner entirely could be construed as child abuse.

Giving them green beans and a plain chicken breast while everyone else gets pizza, though, is a perfectly reasonable punishment.

[Addict]

My parents did that to me all the time when I was young - made me stop doing the dumb shit that I was doing for one. If i didn't, wasnt exactly going to starve to death since missing one meal isnt that huge an issue, nothing a big breakfast couldnt fix.

For the whole situation at hand - I see no issue with how it was used in this situation.

[Crissi]

Its not like they are gonna die if they go to bed hungry. Although it may be a bit harsh.

Depends on when they do their homework. That requires brain power, and being hungry doesn't make that easy.

[ComputerNerd]

I wouldn't say that any single meal is essential, so yes I think it is fair.
There has to be something taken away for any threat or punishment to work.
It just depends on how much they value the meal.

[the game]

The lady told the people around them that she's old fashioned. She doesn't look older than 40 so this seems like an excuse for being an idiot.

[Azadina]

Taking away their dinner entirely could be construed as child abuse.

Giving them green beans and a plain chicken breast while everyone else gets pizza, though, is a perfectly reasonable punishment.

Chicken > pizza. You would have just rewarded me for bad behavior! *giggles*

[Addict]

The lady told the people around them that she's old fashioned. She doesn't look older than 40 so this seems like an excuse for being an idiot.

Because being old-fashioned has to do with your age, obviously.

[Donald Hellscream]

I've never understood the stereotype that kids hate vegetables. I love broccoli and spinach, even as a kid I loved them.

Its mainly due to the fact that humans are predisposed to enjoy fats and sugar more, its leftover survivalist instincts from back when not eating for days at a time was a common thing.

[Aeluron Lightsong]

Chicken > pizza. You would have just rewarded me for bad behavior! *giggles*

Meh....Chicken isn't a big deal to me(Unless it's nuggets or something like that).

[Taeldorian]

I don't really see anything wrong with it, and it's not like missing out on one meal will harm anyone. At least it is a somewhat real punishment instead of the parent just sitting back and letting her child grow up to be an ill-mannered knob.

While that last part is true, not eating dinner could really cause issues. Being hungry before bed time could cause the child not to sleep which will throw off the sleeping pattern, and things like that. I'm not a parent, not even close to the age, but taking away dinner isn't a good idea whether it seems like a punishment or not. Take away things they enjoy, not things they require.

[Dys]

You don't take the dinner away. Instead, you threaten to change their meal to their most hated food, and they won't be able to leave the table until they finish it all.

At least, that's what I would do if I wanted to use a meal as punishment.