ANSWERS: 18
  • if you have the money to pay for it, and they werent doing something totally stupid when they broke it, then i think that they shouldnt have to pay for it.
  • If you like the kids and they normally are respectful of you, then you could do them a favor and let it slide, chalk it up to your homeowner's insurance and move on. If you don't like the kids or they're little brats to you or your family, I'd stick them with the bill and take it to small claims court if necessary if their parents aren't willing to cooperate.
  • Yep, maybe not for all of it, just pay towards it depending on what they were doing. Every accident has consequences, they should learn this :-)
  • If it was a complete accident and they weren't doing anything they shouldn't have been doing to break it, I don't think so. I mean, that's kinda the price you pay for having windows....
  • Kids? Like what age? Kids one day broke the windscreen of my car with a stone. Was it an accident I never found out but I did find out who it was and confronted the parents. Then I discovered that the "kid" was only 12 years of age. The parents paid up and I left it to them to sort it out with the kid.
  • Yes! Kids have to learn that they are responsible for their own actions, intentional or not. That is the way life works, and to do otherwise teaches them something that isn't even close to how real life is.
  • Well, we all have to pay for our "accidents" one way or another. The sooner we start the sooner we accept the reality of it.
  • Well someone has to pay for it, and why should it be someone who didn't do it?
  • Isn't that what insurance is for?
  • Yes, or at least a part of it depending on their age. Children often need lessons in being careful. And paying for a broken window they accidentally broke would have a direct consequence to their carelessness.
  • Yes, I think they learn a lot about consequences when they do. If someone else does, they don't learn.
  • If it was an accident? It depends on the accident. Were they being reckless or were they just having fun and happened to break it? I think it would be nice if the children would raise money by cutting grass, shoveling snow, raking leaves, cutting weeds, and so on. Should they be forced to, though? No. I don't think so. I know it's easy to say, "If you didn't do it, you shouldn't have to pay for it" but I disagree with this line. Sure, the children should be more careful next time. Children make mistakes, just like everyone else. There is insurance for a reason, you know.
  • I wouldn't make someone else's child pay for a broken window, but if it were my child, I would tell them that even though it was an accident, it needs to be replaced, and we should pay for that. I wouldn't make him pay as a punishment though. And I would pay
  • Of course! If they 'accidentally' killed someone they would still be dead. The window still needs to be replaced, and someone has to pay for it. This is the only way they will learn the consequences of their actions.
  • Action defines culpability. Intention does not. People need to learn the difference between punishment and simple consequences.
  • Don't you have a third party liability insurance for your family?
  • Proverb 22:6 encourages parents to teach their children the way in which they should walk, from the beginning. Learning to take responsibility for one’s actions is essential. Maybe the child could pay back a certain percentage of the damage based on their age... for example a 10 yo can easily earn $20.
  • Why not? Any kid can say it was an accident. Teaching kids right from wrong with calm words will make them feel responsible for their actions.

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