Repenting Bench

A nugget of parenting advice I got from the book, The Entitlement Trap, by Linda and Richard Eyre, was the implementation of the "Repenting Bench."  When siblings squabble, it's a way to let them take responsibility for their row, and work through it together without a parent always having to intervene.

Here's how it works:

Mom/Dad says, "Go to the Repenting Bench!"

In order to get up, the kids must:

1) Admit what THEY did wrong (they are forbidden from telling what the other person did--this is about taking personal responsibility).

2) Apologize to the sibling.

3) Hug.

If one sibling is willing to do steps 1 and 2, but the other won't, then the first sibling can get off the bench and the second one has to remain until he's ready to admit responsibility, apologize and hug.

Note: Parents can be sent to the Repenting Bench, too!

We love our Repenting Bench!