Faced with the problem of theft in children, parents very often take radical penalties so that this does not happen again in the future. We note at once that aggressive reaction is not a preventive measure, it can only aggravate the situation. About what to do if the child has become a thief and how to properly disaccustom him from this, we will tell further.
Theft at an early age
For children under the age of six, the term "theft" is not applicable. The thing is that before the age of four they still do not know how to differentiate between "my" and "someone else's". All that they like, the children consider their own and quite calmly take things to themselves. Let us note that understanding the high cost of things that they took is still alien to them. Absolutely the same value can have for a child a plastic toy and jewelry.
At the age of 4-6 years, children already realize whether they own a thing or not. The difficulty for them is the management of their desire to possess the thing they liked. Especially if the desire is very strong.
If a child takes toys and things from others at an early age, parents need:
- form a child's concept of "my", "someone else's";
- teach you to ask the child if he can take a favorite thing or a toy.
Also in the period from 4 to 5 years with children it is possible to hold a conversation about theft, in which it is necessary to explain what it is. And most importantly, what must be conveyed to the child at this age - what does the person who stole the thing feel.
Theft at school age
The subject of interest for beginners to steal schoolchildren most often become money. A child can steal money at home and peers and lie that he did not do it.
Parents who learned that their children are stealing should ask themselves why they are doing this. More often than not, theft is a consequence of unresolved problems. These include:
- lack of funds for pocket expenses and fear of asking them from their parents;
- Extortion of pocket money from a child by senior schoolchildren;
- selfishness and lack of understanding of how much you can spend;
- an attempt to assert oneself in the circle of peers;
- lack of parental attention;
- propensity to steal.
How to teach a child to steal money should be judged from what motivated him to do it.
Conducting conversations, it is important to remember that in no case it is impossible:
- call a child a thief;
- return to the situation after its solution;
- turn a blind eye to the problem;
- to show aggression towards the child.
Determine how to punish a child for theft only after the cause of the misdemeanors has been clarified. Punishment should not be physical and the child must understand its justice.