Childhood Stealing

When it is a problem?

• Your child repeatedly takes items that are hot his or her own and is secretive about it.
• If your child is taking t hings in stores or at school and getting in trouble.

• Many young children (before the age of 5) steal because they ahve difficulty determing that items left out are not free for everyone.
• Some children steal out of impulse and you can help them by not leaving money an dinteresting items out in the open.
• Consider if your child is stealing in ourder to be accepted by his/her peers and help them find positive ways to say "no" to this negative behavior and establish positive ways to make friends.
• Establish clear consequences for stealing behavior such as taking the item back.
• Praise your child for using self-control in sutuations that may have tempted hom or her to steal in the past.

Credits: Center for Child and Family Services, Inc.