[newgeezer]

“Instead of saying, ‘You need to go to bed on time because Mom’s really tired and needs some rest, find a kid reason,” Rubeck said. “A kid isn’t going to care if Mom is tired. A kid reason would be, ‘If you go to bed early tonight, maybe you can earn a reward for the weekend, such as inviting a friend over.’”

Bribery. Yeah, that's brilliant, Doc. (By the way, you changed your example from "on time" to "early" in midstream.)

[Eagle Eye]

Reasoning with toddlers. Yeah, right.

[ArrogantBustard]

Bribery. Yeah, that's brilliant, Doc.
It's a brilliant way to raise a self-centred little sociopath. I've seen a few examples.

I think that a foundation of well established rules from the get-go, helps.
It's absolutely essential. "Yes" and "No" must mean exactly that. "Maybe" should be rare, and converted to "No" in response to any begging, pleading, or whining. Idle threats are disastrous; I've seen too many parents threaten their children with consequences they have no intention of inflicting; the kids learn pretty quickly that their parents' word is worthless. Discipline goes down the drain, and you've another household run by a 4 year old brat.

[Bob Mc]

We ruined our first kid with bribary tactics and trying to negotiate things. Later, during his early teen years he began constantly undermining his mother's authority, taunting her, bickering and negotiating for a more favorable settlement, over petty details of every single argument. On several occasion he drove her to tears.

Our next 2 boys, we never bribed or negotiated anything. The law was set and that was that. They are much more well adjusted and happy. After about 4 years old, we never ever had to spank them anymore.

[potlatch]

Bribery.

I had a sister in law who always used bribery, and I really thought it was wrong. I was spanked as a child, and the schools spanked too. It was an effective deterrent. and we respected all adults.