how do you handle it?

OK. My kids are generally good, but we do have a bit of trouble convincing them to care for their toys. They simply do not understand why they should not stand on things, or why things should not be chewed on or thrown or whatever. It feels like I am constantly reminding them to corral the small toys so that all the pieces do not get lost (remember Polly Pocket's flip flop?). I feel like it's a constant battle to get them to respect their things and treat them right.

So, today, The Boy was playing with his Etch-a-Sketch. He got it for his birthday, and he loves it. He just makes squiggles on it for now, but he really enjoys it, and I remember really loving mine when I was a kid, too. It makes me happy that he seems to like it as much as I did. He played with it for a while as I was on the computer, and he left it on the floor near my chair. Enter The Babe.

The Babe comes in to ask me something, walks right up to my chair, and just stands on the Etch-a-Sketch. All 50 pounds of her. *crack* We heard it. She broke it. It's just a small crack in the corner, but the little sketching doo-dad is trapped in that corner now, and no matter how much you turn the dials, it's just stuck. Broken. She broke one of The Boy's favorite toys because she cannot be bothered to pay attention to where she walks or stands. Now, I know he shouldn't have left it on the floor, but you can't tell me you don't notice that you are standing on an Etch-a-Sketch and not the floor. I simply cannot be convinced.

So, here's my dillema. The Babe is a sensitive soul, and she feels really terrible that she broke The Boy's toy. She started to cry, and she immediately told me she was sorry over and over again. But, the fact remains that she knows better. She's been told countless times that her carelessness would lead to something just like this. As a mother, I am torn. Do I comfort her because I know she feels terrible? Or do I punish her for being careless? And you know, I had an instant to decide.

I told her I knew it was an accident, but I explained that she knows better, and she needs to be more careful. I did give her a hug as she cried, comforting mode kind of took over, but I still can't shake that she got off pretty easy. The Boy does not yet know that his toy is broken. I can't decide what to do about that, either. Do I throw this one away and stealthily replace it? Or, do I make The Babe tell The Boy what happened, tell him she's sorry, and then replace it down the road a bit? I am leaning toward option #2, simply because it might teach The Babe to take responsibility. Yes. I think that's the plan. Thanks for helping me think it through.