I think the point is to try to be the most honest and clear that you can about the situation and consequences. With that you don’t need a hierarchy: 1 and 2 a

I think the point is to try to be the most honest and clear that you can about the situation and consequences. With that you don’t need a hierarchy: 1 and 2 are the same, you just have shallower arguments in 2 3 is not an option IMO, it really should be 2: you can plainly say “I can’t explain, but that’s what I believe is right” and let the kid decide what they want to do. This helps if the kid doesn’t take your side: if you’re not happy with outcome, there was clear a warning, making an eventual punishment more fair; Or if they happen to be right, you don’t lose credibility as you were transparent about your standpoint and you can make it right to them.