"...and if he's like any of the other kids I know (and have known), he'll get'em again and again any time he wants. Kids can be REAL crafty that way. They want something, they're usually gonna get it...and if they DON'T wanna do something, they usually will NOT do it just to make adults happy (like some people here seem to think)."

That's right, and so trying to control them is not only unethical, it's also ineffectual!

The point is, if you let them learn that eating too many cheetoes and/or spending their money on the same is a bad idea through experience, they're a lot more likely to take it to heart when you tell them something than if you use force to achieve the same objective. This applies to all human beings including children from about 7 and up.

"Inf - who is wondering if he and turtle are the only ones who have spent alot of time around kids in the real world..."

Hen-Wen, who has many younger brothers, sisters and cousins whom he has helped to raise, in addition to his many years as ballet summer school counsellor.

(In addition, you know those developmental psychologists? They spend a lot of time around children in the real world, and they use a scientific method, not conjecture, like some).