Needing advice on suitable punishment for 6yr old who continues to steal and lie we have taken toys ect last week and cut movie and tv time it's $ from my hand bag and to the point I take it to bed and leave it in my room now it's items from school and still money when ever I go to bathroom ect he thinks it's ok to steal $ from my wallet and I'm at my wits end with him
We I ask why it's always someone else fault it's never him and even when I say about stealing if u do it as an adult u can go to jail his reaction is so what I'm only a kid
7 Replies
Has he been looked at by a peaditrician or child psychologist? This sounds like an ongoing problem that needs professional support?
Does he have his own money. Tuck shop, pocket money? That he's responsible for and has control over. Sounds like he has an interest in money. I'd show him all the different notes and coins, let him do chores for money so he gets his own before then talk to him about how he'd feel if somebody took his money and the stealing aspect
If he is stealing from school (or a shop) have you tried taking him back and telling him he has to return the item and give an apology. Perhaps if he feels the guilt and has the consequence of having someone other than mum know what he has done it may shock him into thinking twice before he steals again.
Take him to his teacher and tell her what has happened and make him give it back as well as apologise and accept the punishment.
We had a bit of this go on in our house too, my kids even came up with elaborate stories about where they found money even though that exact amount was missing from my purse! They stole from a shop one day and were forced to return and talk to the manager (they were only about 5 and 6) it definitely put a stopper in their sticky fingers!
Yes have taken him to school with the items and he told the teacher kids have him their drink bottles and $ ect he missed out on play but still wouldn't be honest and says like it was only I day who cares kind of attitude?
We have taken his items he takes drink bottles books lunch boxes clothing from school school have talked about it as a class and have started everyone check their bags so he hides things wrapped in jumper ect in his bag it's way out of control the $ is for tuckshop which he gets well did till stealing become a thing but he won't own up to anything tells lie after lie and has no remorse and we have spoken about jail and he like so I'll bash police and kill them with their gun and run away like he dosnt understand at all ?
Can you talk to the tuckshop workers and try getting him banned from going there?
What is he spending the money on is the question. Look at what his motivation is. Is he buying tuckshop everyday to be seen as a "cool kid" with money all the time or is he trying to buy friends with gifts and treats? I was a child thief who continued on into teenage years stealing everything I could except I never stole from shops only from people close to me. I had no self esteem, I was trying to buy the "cool" things to be cool and buy friends with lollies and gifts and I think in a way I was trying to punish the people I was stealing from. I wanted them to feel as sad as I was. I finally stopped and I am still trying to work what it was that stopped me from ever stealing again. Good luck and don't give up hope that he will change. Give him opportunities to earn the money