Why is my seven year old stealing things. And why is he stealing things he clearly doesn't need. I don't know what to do... someone please help me!?
I agree with Cheryl. The punishment needs to be hard and swift to scare him. Stealing at his age, is pretty scary.
Have you asked HIM why? Calmly and in a quiet moment?
You need to be more specific. What is he stealing and from whom?
Some people steal just for the rush of doing it and getting away with it. He may be seeking your attention. It's hard to know. You'll have to ask him.
You don't say if he's stealing from a store or what, but I know my daughter stole some candy when she was 9. She got caught. Part of her punishment was that she was not allowed to go into a store, any store, for six months, with or without an adult! After that, for six months she was only allowed to go into a store with an adult. Her punishment lasted an entire year and she NEVER stole anything again!
Attention. My husband told me when I get upset with the kids for doing just silly things that don't make any sense is that they want my attention wether it be bad or good.
It's hard to say, especially with so few specifics. Is he shoplifting from stores? Taking special pencils out of kids' backpacks? Taking recess toys from the teacher's classroom? Kids take things they WANT, not necessarily what they need.
This kind of stealing is a little worrisome. Talk to the ped about it, but talk about it in private.
Good luck,
Dawn
