5/6/7 year old stealing money

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All three of my kids got caught taking something at those ages. But once caught and lectured, it stopped - like a once and done thing.

One thing that did complicate things was that at that age, kids give lots of stuff to each other. So I had to set a rule that parental permission was required before giving or accepting anything.

If all three kids did it, something else is going on in your home.

Some crazy troll is in this thread OP, ignore them. While certainly needs to be addressed/corrected it is not the end of the world

[Anonymous]

OP, the younger one doing it is not particularly a problem BUT it is very likely the reason they are doing it is, an older child in their life, has done it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How bad is it for kids to be stealing money at these ages? How serious of a problem does it represent?

I don't understand it cause it's not like they have any way to spend it

Money insecurity may be an issue in the household.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All three of my kids got caught taking something at those ages. But once caught and lectured, it stopped - like a once and done thing.

One thing that did complicate things was that at that age, kids give lots of stuff to each other. So I had to set a rule that parental permission was required before giving or accepting anything.

If all three kids did it, something else is going on in your home.

DP. I disagree. I know several people who are successful now, had good parents, and grew up in families with varying income levels who got caught stealing at around those ages.

[Anonymous]

I stole money from my mom's wallet once as a kid. Just a few bucks to buy a toy. I think I was maybe 6 years old. I think my mom knew we did (where else did we get the money as a 6 year old, lol), and somehow I kind of knew she knew after it was all over. I felt bad about it ever since. Never stole from my mom again, although some elementary school kids from the wrong side of town taught me and some other "good kids" to steal from a convenience store near our elementary school. A lot of days after school we would steal a candy bar or something.

After that year, never stole again in my life. Productive citizen, married, kids, no psychological problems, high HHI, blah blah blah

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I stole money from my mom's wallet once as a kid. Just a few bucks to buy a toy. I think I was maybe 6 years old. I think my mom knew we did (where else did we get the money as a 6 year old, lol), and somehow I kind of knew she knew after it was all over. I felt bad about it ever since. Never stole from my mom again, although some elementary school kids from the wrong side of town taught me and some other "good kids" to steal from a convenience store near our elementary school. A lot of days after school we would steal a candy bar or something.

After that year, never stole again in my life. Productive citizen, married, kids, no psychological problems, high HHI, blah blah blah

BTW I keep saying "we" because my little brother was there for the wallet stealing and convenience store stealing as well, two years younger. He's also a productive citizen, married, kids, never committed a crime since. Although he is an alcoholic lately.

[Anonymous]

I knew a boy who believed that a monster was under his bed every night, so he used to stash food under the bed. When his parents found out and put a stop to it, he stole his father's wallet and left a note under the bed saying: no more food, go buy your own snack, here is money


Needless to say, his father thought this was engenious

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I totally stole as a kid. Totally normal (well, as much as any of us are), law abiding citizen now. It ended before middle school- probably when I started babysitting and had money of my own and more responsibilities

It is not normal. Parents are supposed to instill a code of ethics in their children and this starts with "you do not lie. You do not steal. You do not use something that belongs to someone else without asking permission.". These are just the basics.

Of course it's normal. It's not ok, and should be dealt with, but lying and stealing are normal (meaning, lots of kids have done it, not that it's sanctioned) behaviors.

What is the situation, OP. Is it your kid or someone else's?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I knew a boy who believed that a monster was under his bed every night, so he used to stash food under the bed. When his parents found out and put a stop to it, he stole his father's wallet and left a note under the bed saying: no more food, go buy your own snack, here is money


Needless to say, his father thought this was engenious

There's no world in which a child is mentally undeveloped enough to think he is feeding a monster under his bed, and simultaneously mentally developed enough to write the note you claim was written.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I knew a boy who believed that a monster was under his bed every night, so he used to stash food under the bed. When his parents found out and put a stop to it, he stole his father's wallet and left a note under the bed saying: no more food, go buy your own snack, here is money


Needless to say, his father thought this was engenious

There's no world in which a child is mentally undeveloped enough to think he is feeding a monster under his bed, and simultaneously mentally developed enough to write the note you claim was written.

Completely disagree. My little sister was so convinced they tinker bell was real after watching Hook that she cut a hole in the screen of our bedroom window so tinker belle could come in and take her to Never Never Land. She was old enough for Hook so must have been, what, 7? 8? Totally old enough to write the monster note pp mwntioned

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I totally stole as a kid. Totally normal (well, as much as any of us are), law abiding citizen now. It ended before middle school- probably when I started babysitting and had money of my own and more responsibilities

Same here. Totally stole as a kid. Even got busted once and had to give a pack of gum back. I don't break too many laws now, although I did walk out of target the other day with a pack of paper towels that the cashier forgot to ring up. Oh well.

Wow! Sounds like you never did change. So, what is your limit and why didn't you walk back and pay for what you stole? I did the same thing ( paper towels were under the cart) BUT I walked back and paid for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I knew a boy who believed that a monster was under his bed every night, so he used to stash food under the bed. When his parents found out and put a stop to it, he stole his father's wallet and left a note under the bed saying: no more food, go buy your own snack, here is money


Needless to say, his father thought this was engenious

Bull! Also it is "ingenious".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for all the responses - this is helpful. I hope it stops soon!

It won't stop with just a hope. You take charge and have them personally return the stolen item(s,) and apologize as well as take away privilege(s).

Not my kid and I think that has already happened. I'm just a concerned observer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How bad is it for kids to be stealing money at these ages? How serious of a problem does it represent?

I don't understand it cause it's not like they have any way to spend it

Money insecurity may be an issue in the household.

No, not the case here i don't think

[Anonymous]

Have them return money and apologize, explain about stealing and what happens if people steal doesn’t matter they got caught or not. Ask them why they steal, and offer opportunities for them to earn money in a right way like work on house chore or mowing lawn for neighbor etc.