Reminds me of another thing we did when DS was 3 to 4 and could get pretty wound up, particularly in the car or public places. We used a point system where if it ever reached five points meant he'd miss out on something. We'd give plusses and minuses throughout a trip. The mystery result and the scoring meant: A. We rarely had to enforce it (and when we did, I'd just say: "guess you'll never know") B. We didn't have to have any awkward or disruptive disciplining in the car or public places C. Zen