What to do if your child steals
During the first years of life children take all those that generate interest without understanding that what they do is wrong or good. It is around 5 years old when children have the concept of property and begin to understand what it means to steal. What motives lead children to commit robberies R
During the first years of life children take all those that generate interest without understanding that what they do is wrong or good.
It is around 5 years old when children have the concept of property and begin to understand what it means to steal.
What motives lead children to commit robberies
Robberies committed by children from preschool through adolescence rarely have to do with greed, poverty or values. They have more to do with personal needs and conflicts. These children know how to distinguish between good and bad. They know of the existence of consequences but still they continue to commit them. Then, why are they tempted to steal:
- Self-control problems. Children know that they should not take things without paying, but many, not having enough control over themselves, can not avoid taking what does not belong to them.
- Call for attention. The child feels angry because he does not receive all the attention he demands.
- Rebellion. Children steal for a simple challenge to the rules.
- Demonstrate independence of the parents.
- Identity search. Robbery demonstrates bravery before their peers and group membership is found.
- Substitution. It seeks to replace the lack of emotional affection for material affection.
We must also bear in mind that values sometimes come into play. The child learns from one of the parents that stealing or blackmail is good, so for the other member of the couple it is impossible to teach values having this bad example in front. This eliminates the value of loyalty, of consideration for others.
What parents can do if the child steals
It is the responsibility of the parents to give the child enough recognition to feel like an important member of the family and not develop feelings that lead him to commit harmful attitudes such as theft. If parents take appropriate measures, in most cases the action of stealing will cease as the child grows. Some recommendations for taking appropriate measures are the following: Hacer - Make him feel that he is an active part of the family.
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Show interest in the activities you do. -
Talk . Sit with the child and ask him why he steals and what the purpose is.-
Question it . Ask him what is the sense for the child to steal and explain that this action hurts other people.-
Confidence . Make the child see that stealing reduces the trust of the family.-
Privacy . Do not mention the incident all the time and keep the confidentiality of the matter.-
Do not judge. No labels, no insults, keep calm. If after taking these measures the thefts continue persistently, it may be due to a bigger problem in the emotional development of the child. Therefore, it is advisable to weigh the idea of going to the child psychologist or the psychiatrist. With professional help you can diagnose the real reasons why the child needs to steal and plan an appropriate treatment such as learning to establish a relationship of trust.
