why do these kids act like going to the 'naughty step' is the worst?

A few things...

First and foremost, they have had no actual discipline in their life. If they were brought up with "go to your room" or "no dessert tonight" then they wouldn't freak out at the thought of "paying for their mistakes". And they would learn from their mistakes.

Second: Many think that the time spend there is "eons". They don't know that 5 minutes is about 2x a commercial break. When I was a camp counselor for kids going into kindergarten, we had to tell time with them in terms of "Barney" and "Sesame Street" (One Barney is 30 minutes and one Sesame Street is one hour...) They tell time by tv.

Third... Kids nowadays think that certain things are real when they are just misinterpreting or even out and out lying about what is going on. And I am not talking about the Tooth Fairy. I am talking about they get a swat to their behind when they swear and they go into school saying they are abused.



"Oh Thank you God! Thank you so BLOODY much!" Basil Fawlty

I totally agree with what you're saying. I got spanked growing up and whenever my mom said I was getting a spanking, I would be so afraid. If all I had to do was sit on a chair for 5 minutes that would have been nothing. I think these kids are just so spoiled and undisciplined that any attempt to control their behavior is the end of the world.

"Once you give up integrity, the rest is a piece of cake" JR Ewing