it is normal for a very young child to take something which excites his/her intrest. This should not be regarded as stealing until the youngster is old enough, usaully three to five year old, to understand that taking something which belong to another person is wrong. Parents should actively teach their children about property rights and the consideration of others. How would u go about teaching your 4 year old not to take things off the supermarket shelf when the twoof you are shopping??
2006-09-24 10:12:28 · 14 answers · asked by g2daezo 1 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
My daughter took candy from the supermarket when she first turned three. I explained to her that we could not take things until we paid for them, otherwise that is called stealing and it is wrong. I brought her back in the store and made her give it back and apologize. She has never done it again and she will be 4 on Tuesday. Children get it much more than we give them credit for. They are as smart if not smarter than us, they just don't have the acquired knowledge we do. Actually their brains work much better than ours.
2006-09-24 10:26:39 · answer #1 · answered by crct2004 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
One of my daughters did take something from a grocery store when she was about that age. I didn't know she had taken anything until we were half way home. I turned the car around and went right back to the store. I took her in to the store and made her go to the cashier who had rung us up and tell her what she had done. Then she had to ask for the manager and had to tell him what she had done and return the item.
The manager told her that she could have the small item that she had taken and I said no. I told him she had stolen the item and that she did not deserve a reward for it.
After we got home I looked at her and asked her if she understood that what she had done was wrong. She said yes. I told her the next time she took anything from a store or anywhere else, I was going to take her straight to the police station. That was the end of it. She never stole again.
2006-09-24 10:25:05 · answer #2 · answered by nana4dakids 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Teach the child that you have to pay for items not just take them. Maybe you could play store at home to get the idea across. Some places sell toy cash registers.
2006-09-24 10:15:08 · answer #3 · answered by notyou311 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I would simply stop everything and tell the child it is not right to do that..and put the object back....if there is a temper tantrum then I'd simply leave the store...teach the child that there is no reward...
2006-09-24 10:26:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
This can be a difficult concept for a child to understand. Most adults don't quite get it. Watch your child carefully. When they pick up things, take them away, and return them; be persistant, but don't get angry. It may take a while before they accept that they can't have everything they see.
2006-09-24 10:23:02 · answer #5 · answered by pfhuber 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
make them apologize to someone at the store for taking the item. the child should associate a store worker with ownership of all items in the store and should be taught that you have to pay for things.
the embarrasment of having to apologize will stick in your childs head the next time they are inclined to take something that doesnt belong to them.
2006-09-24 10:21:35 · answer #6 · answered by normal_cody 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Definitely that lesson begins at home. You have to explain that when you buy new things, you have to pay money for them. Maybe to help illustrate it, play with a toy cash register, and another good way to show the child would be to let them help pay next time you're at the cashier.
2006-09-24 10:24:18 · answer #7 · answered by Jus'me 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I would simply instruct the child to put it back. If he/she comes out of the store with it, I would take her/him back into the store and have him/her give it back to the store manager and apologize for stealing.
2006-09-24 10:32:15 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
two ideas,
Play store at home and say "sorry you can buy this you dont have anough play money" and explain thats how it is at home (explain without using big words and put it at a example that they would get)
Second idea:
Tell them when they pick somthing up "no dont pick that up! the store wants to keep it they would get mad if you took it"
and if they ask "then why did you pick up the carrots or that shirt?" then say "because the store didnt want it"
Then when she/he gets older of course they'll understand the concept of money.
But i agree with nana4dakid's
I think thats a good idea. (and good story)
2006-09-24 10:25:10 · answer #9 · answered by justme 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
This is a great opportunity for you to begin teaching the Ten Commandments. "Thou Shalt Not Steal"
2006-09-24 10:21:43 · answer #10 · answered by Youth Pastor 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋