When Atticus reacts to the "Boo Radley Game," what do you notice about the way he disciplines his children? What does this say about his...

When Atticus sees the scissors in Jem's hands, he has a pretty good idea that the children's play acting has to do with the Radleys. Atticus had previously warned the children about bothering his reclusive neighbors when old Mr. Radley was sick. He warned them again when Jem denied their melodrama had anything to do with Boo.

"I hope it doesn't," he said shortly...

Oddly, Atticus threatens to "tan" them if they have cut up the day's newspaper (though Atticus has never spanked his children), but his serious tone convinced the threesome to cancel the remaining performances. Scout believes that Atticus has already caught on.

    "Jem," I said. "I think Atticus knows it anyway."

The kids eventually "slowed down the game for a while," although Atticus would later put his foot down about the kids "tormenting" the Radleys. Atticus shows patience and understanding with Jem and Scout, and he trusts they will obey him, even though Jem reminds Scout, "Atticus didn't say we couldn't."