We were living in Mazkeret Batya in Israel as Yossi was 3 years old and rapidly approaching his fourth birthday.  One day Yossi misbehaved and I threatened him that if he did not behave appropriately that I would take away his 4th birthday and he would have to remain 3 for a whole extra year.  Yossi was very sorry and immediately improved his behavior.  So in the end I gave Yossi his 4th birthday, his party, and all his presents.  Then some of the mothers and grandmothers heard what I had done to poor little Yossi and accused me of “cruel and unusual punishment”.  But then after think about this for while some of the mothers and grandmothers came back to me and asked if I could take away some of their birthdays.