Help 6yr old son stealing and lying
Discussion
i do not have any children , so feel free to ignore my thoughts. i have helped bring up four children in my family.
if he likes money , teach him that it might be easier to earn it , rather than take it. the main thing for me would be to emphasise that his behaviour is not acceptable.
if he likes money , teach him that it might be easier to earn it , rather than take it. the main thing for me would be to emphasise that his behaviour is not acceptable.
Orchid1 said:
Get a police officer to speak to him about the consequences of stealing.
How would that work?OP: Hello is that the police?
police: yes how can we help you?
OP: I have a 6 year old that stole a pound, can you send someone around to have a chat?
Police: We'll send our best man.
Alternatively the good old sending them to bed and telling them to pack it in might work.
Sheets Tabuer said:
How would that work?
OP: Hello is that the police?
police: yes how can we help you?
OP: I have a 6 year old that stole a pound, can you send someone around to have a chat?
Police: We'll send our best man.
Alternatively the good old sending them to bed and telling them to pack it in might work.
A woman in my work did it with her son and it worked a treat apparently.OP: Hello is that the police?
police: yes how can we help you?
OP: I have a 6 year old that stole a pound, can you send someone around to have a chat?
Police: We'll send our best man.
Alternatively the good old sending them to bed and telling them to pack it in might work.
I was 6 once. 26 years ago now.
He is pushing the limits and doesn't understand the consequence of what he is doing and the impact it has. He sees that these coins have a value to people, and so he wants more of them and thinks he can get away with it.
Talk to him. Just talk to him. Explain why it is wrong, and try and link it to something he can comprehend. No need yet to get the police involved; but explain to him how stealing is wrong, and lying is wrong and what would he feel if someone stole his actual favourite toy, and how bad he would feel if he knew the person who stole it was lying about it.
Why does he want this money? What is it for? Find out. Then try and use that to set a goal for him to work towards maybe? If he tells the truth, and behaves properly then a reward? Reward systems seem to work well with children. They can see their progress, they can see their goal at the end. As my wife will tell you, she's a primary school teacher, children of that age will do nearly ANYTHING for a sticker on their acheivement chart.
He is pushing the limits and doesn't understand the consequence of what he is doing and the impact it has. He sees that these coins have a value to people, and so he wants more of them and thinks he can get away with it.
Talk to him. Just talk to him. Explain why it is wrong, and try and link it to something he can comprehend. No need yet to get the police involved; but explain to him how stealing is wrong, and lying is wrong and what would he feel if someone stole his actual favourite toy, and how bad he would feel if he knew the person who stole it was lying about it.
Why does he want this money? What is it for? Find out. Then try and use that to set a goal for him to work towards maybe? If he tells the truth, and behaves properly then a reward? Reward systems seem to work well with children. They can see their progress, they can see their goal at the end. As my wife will tell you, she's a primary school teacher, children of that age will do nearly ANYTHING for a sticker on their acheivement chart.
Imho he needs consequences attached to the things that he does both good and bad. Treats for good stuff and, say, missing out on good things that he likes for the bad eg give a warning such as if you do that again this will happen and then (this is important) if he does it again do what you said you would do. There will be tears and tantrums initially however once he gets used to it behaviour will improve imho. Got to sort it now though as will be so much harder when older.
TX.
PS Kids do not need beatings like the "good old days" just in case this descends in to the usual slap them around a bit threads.
TX.
PS Kids do not need beatings like the "good old days" just in case this descends in to the usual slap them around a bit threads.
I think you should encourage him to earn money. With the fair days work for a fair day's pay leaning. I dont mean stick him out in the fields or anything, but asking him what he's going to spend the money on, or what he's saving him for. Set him tasks and if he completes them (pro rata it as well, for 50%/75%) then he gets £x
I think sending in the police might be a bit much at this stage to be honest but I'm more a fan of carrots than sticks
ETA - on the sticks side, my Sister once did a cracker. One of her lads had been stealing money from her purse. She knew it, so one day while they were at school she moved all the food to my Mums house. When the kids came back asking what was for tea she said she'd lost her money or it'd disappeared, that was all she had and there wasnt any left for food. Son aged 6 miraculously 'found' £10 on the landing floor and came down to save the day. He also didnt steal after that
I think sending in the police might be a bit much at this stage to be honest but I'm more a fan of carrots than sticks
ETA - on the sticks side, my Sister once did a cracker. One of her lads had been stealing money from her purse. She knew it, so one day while they were at school she moved all the food to my Mums house. When the kids came back asking what was for tea she said she'd lost her money or it'd disappeared, that was all she had and there wasnt any left for food. Son aged 6 miraculously 'found' £10 on the landing floor and came down to save the day. He also didnt steal after that
Edited by andy-xr on Monday 27th February 11:02
anonymous said:
[redacted]
It's not the slippery slope to criminality. My kids have both been through phases of nicking stuff and then lying about it.It's difficult to control other than reducing the opportunity to steal (I never leave money lying around the house) and regular reinforcement of why you shouldn't steal. The big danger I was worried about was if ether of mine stole stuff at school - they didn't, but I was concerned for a while.
Can you talk to the teacher about reinforcing the message about stealing and lying?
Don't worry that he'll turn into Ronnie Biggs. He won't.
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