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.

Who says they're gonna "learn" anything? If they like them, then they're gonna go get them when they want. THAT was my point...that even if something is "bad" for them, or you don't want them to do something...in the end, they WILL do it if they want to...so if he likes the Cheetos and wants them, he will keep getting them and not "learn" they are bad or will take all his money, cuz he'll think it's worth it. The big duh.

Hen-Wen, who has many younger brothers, sisters and cousins whom he has helped to raise...

We have much in common...except the Ballet! Dealing with kids in RL is not quite what I read about in all of my Dev Psych books either.

In addition, you know those developmental psychologists?

LOL...since you're talking to someone who almost Majored in Psych (and did end up with a Minor)...I will simply have to say that I have little faith in that pseudo science...as it is WAY to subjective and not based on any real scientific fact (which I'm sure you'll disagree with, and we'll have to save that debate for another time).

Inf.