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My young child is stealing

 

Your 5 to 6 year old keeps coming home with toys. Temptation is everywhere, but how do you deal with a child you think is stealing?

The law

Stealing is a crime, but children under ten in the UK cannot be prosecuted for it. However, you should deal with stealing strictly from an early age. To a point, stealing is a development stage in younger children, but you must make sure it doesn’t become a habit.

Younger children

If your child keeps coming home with things that aren’t theirs, and makes up unlikely stories, the chances are they’re stealing. However, if you shout at a child when you catch them stealing, it might just teach them not to get caught. View this as a good opportunity to teach your child the difference between right and wrong.

What to do

  • Keep calm.
  • Give your child a chance to confess by saying “I wonder where this came from?”
  • If they don’t confess say “You didn’t have it this morning”.
  • If they still don’t confess, don’t give them the chance to lie. Be direct and say “I see you took this”.
  • Tell them it’s wrong, but let them know that you understand how they feel “I know you wanted it, but it’s wrong to steal”.
  • Put the situation right, by returning the item.

You may have to go through this a number of times before a small child breaks the habit. Keep it positive and consistent.

 
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