The child steals: what to do
According to statistics, child theft is a common problem. Sometimes children, who at first glance do not need anything, start stealing. But parents who notice such behavior in their child simply do not know what to do with it and panic. Some throw a tantrum, others scold the child, while others generally try to pretend as if nothing had happened. What is the right way to respond to child theft? Let's talk about this in more detail.
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Why does the child steal
Among the most common causes of child theft are the following:
- Impulsiveness of children. There are situations when it seems to a child that it is very easy to steal, but he has not yet learned to resist his desires. For example, if there is a beautiful cake on a store shelf, and the child does not yet understand that they need to be paid for, only fear can stop him punishments... If the baby knows how to take it unnoticed, it will most likely do so. Such situations happen even with those children who understand that it is impossible to take someone else's. But it is very difficult for young children to restrain their desires.
- Bad relationship with parents. Lack of attention from the parents can also cause the child to steal. He believes that by taking some thing or money, he can draw attention to himself, reunite with loved ones again.
- Self-affirmation. Some children, by stealing, try to assert themselves, showing others their agility, cunning and courage.
A child steals money: what to do
According to psychologists, until the age of 5, most children cannot control their desires, so they take what they want, sometimes without asking. It doesn't matter if it's money or a small plastic toy.
How to react in a situation when a child steals money?
- It is necessary to explain the concept of "personal property" using an example.
- Some children steal money just to make family present... You shouldn't shout at the child, just explain that it is not necessary to steal, you can do something with your own hands, for example. You won't need money for this, but the parents will still be pleased. The value is not in money, but in attention.
- If the child does not have pocket funds, this can also cause such an addiction. This nuance also needs to be given special attention, since at an older age, pressure from friends who allow themselves to buy various little things also plays a role, respectively, everyone is equal to them.
- Lack of attention. The problem of family theft is especially urgent. You need to talk calmly, as they say, "heart to heart."
- It is important to understand if the child has feelings of guilt. The decision of the parents must be firm, since it is still desirable to return all the stolen money to the owners.
The child steals: advice from psychologists
Unfortunately, it is not so easy to wean a child from stealing. Parents must go this long way together with their child. What is needed for this?
- React calmly. You can't give in to emotions. You need to talk to your child in a calm atmosphere, find out the reasons for the theft. It is strictly forbidden to offend the baby, call him a thief, etc.
Quite often, this behavior is observed in children who have undergone stress. This can be a move to another city, a change of educational institution, etc. - Explain why you shouldn't steal. It is not necessary to read lectures, it is enough to emphasize that, for example, in the family no one steals from anyone, since they trust each other, respectively, one should behave in a similar way in society. You can talk about the consequences of theft.
- Parents should talk about their feelings. But you should not talk about anger, but pay attention to the fact that parents are very upset when something goes missing. It is recommended that you compare your feelings with, for example, how the baby feels when a favorite toy is missing.
- Insist on correcting the situation. But this must be done carefully. If a child stole something from the store, it is better to talk to the owner in advance, explain the situation, pay for the goods, and only then bring the child to ask for an apology. After all, some people can behave inappropriately and greatly scare the baby. At the same time, parents must show care, readiness to always help and be there in difficult times.
To avoid such problems, it is necessary to pay a lot of attention to the kids, because it is from his lack that they go to rash acts.
