They want to appear tough, bold, and important. They desire to fit in with a peer group that steals. They like the thrill that comes from stealing. They think they can get away with it. They are rebelling against authority. They need money to buy drugs. What can teachers do? Compliment and reinforce honest behavior in students. Ask the guidance counselor to teach lessons on honesty. Invite a police officer as a guest speaker to explain the ramifications of theft. Take time to ask yourself why the behavior occurred: What personal problems could the child be having?
Is the child stealing to call attention to him or herself? Which of the reasons listed above fit this child? Then decide on a way to get to know the child better. Examples are eating lunch with him or her and one or two other children, talking with the child on the playground, or meeting with him or her before or after school. Follow the school guidelines. Contact the school administrator.
Make sure the parent is aware of the concern. Involve the school counselor or school psychologist who can help the child learn appropriate ways of behaving.. An evaluation by a child psychiatrist may be necessary. It's fun pretending to be a cop chasing and capturing a robber. It can be even more fun to be the robber because you take things and try to get away with them before your buddy, the cop, catches you. You're not really stealing, of course.
It's just make-believe. Or maybe you're playing baseball, trying to steal a base and not get tagged out. When playing basketball, you can steal the ball from a player on the other team. A stolen base or a steal on the basketball court can help your team. Hey — it's fair play and it's part of the game! These are both examples of pretend or imaginary stealing that are OK, but there is another form of stealing that is wrong. When a person takes something that belongs to somebody else without permission, that is stealing.
The stolen object can be as small as a piece of candy or as big as a car. It can be taken from someone a person knows or from a stranger. It can be taken from a store, a kind of stealing called shoplifting, or from someone's home.
But either way, it's stealing. People can steal words and ideas , too. For instance, if someone takes your book report and tells the teacher that she — not you — wrote it, that's another form of stealing. Imagine how upset you would be if that happened to you! Little kids age 4 and younger may not understand that they shouldn't take things that don't belong to them. But by the time you are 5 or 6, you understand what's right and what's wrong. Most school-age kids know that they aren't supposed to take something without asking or without paying for it.
Still, some kids lack self-control. They might see something they want and take it. They don't stop to think first about what might happen. They might not think to buy the object or ask to borrow it. Kids get better at self-control as they grow. Some kids may need extra help learning self-control. Some kids steal because their friends or family members do it or because they might have been dared. They might believe their friends will like them more if they steal.
Doing something for these reasons is called peer pressure , but kids don't have to give in to it. Some kids steal because they feel something is missing in their lives. What's missing may be love or attention. Or simple things like food and clothing. They may be angry , sad , scared, or jealous. They might steal as a way to deal with the situation. But stealing won't fix what's missing. Other kids might have personal problems that lead them to steal. When somebody else has a one-of-a-kind something she wants or needs.
To get back at somebody stealing a bully's lunch money. When she wants or needs something, she doesn't have enough money, and you can't afford it either. When she's afraid to ask you for the money for this particular object condoms, a bra , or feels too embarrassed to purchase it. When she may not be able to legally purchase something beer, cigarettes. Because it's fun; kids enjoy taking risks, and in a society that is careful to protect kids as much as possible, stealing provides a risky, thrill-provoking activity.
During times of stress. What else is going on in your child's life? It's a Good Idea! Next: Page 2. Learn how to have your child behave well.
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