How to deal with stealing?

Question

My 7 year old daughter has started to steal items from me and my mother in law. I opened her overnight bag this morning to find half of my mother in law's jewellery collection in it. I am also missing my engagement ring which I guess is in her room somewhere but she wont admit it. My question relates to what I should do about it. I know from experience of my brothers and sisters that otherwise good children sometimes steal but I am not at all sure how to discipline her? She is currently up in her room and is in there all day.

Answer 1

i would suggest explaining to her the value of this stuff and then talk it over with her but if that dosen't work then try bringing her down to a police station and explain to the officer to show her the bad points about stealing.He would bring her to a row of stuff and explain to her she could be a criminal 1 day and that stuff. But if you really want to make her not do it again there are 2 ways , firstly you could spank her and make her give it back that way or durin the police stealin tour you could make the officer get it out of her or at the end of the tour let your daughter get 1 spank from the off icer . try one of the methods they work

Answer 2

If your local police station is anything like mine you will probably have to make an appointment.
I would not make a huge deal out of it if she has never stolen before.
I would explain to her it is wrong and not nice for the people to have their things being stolen. And sneekily i would 'steal' her favourite possesion sometime today and when she notices i would tell her i 'stole' it. And she would have the rest of the day to ponder on her loss. And tonight at the dinner table i would decide wether she had learnt something from the experience and if the excercise was discipline in itself.
In your case she would also have to return the jewellery to my mother in law herself. That is enough discipline for a first timer i would think.

I say first timer because you have never caught her before. You might have had suspicions at the most going by what you said.

Answer 3

Take all of her stuff out of her room. Then when she asks why, tell her that you wanted it so your taking it. Or better yet, let a few others (that you have let in on the purpose) come into her room and just pick out whatever they want of hers. Then when she cries or complains. Tell her that she is doing this to others. But she's doing it by stealing. Ask her how she feels when her stuff is taken away. Then make her examine how she thinks others would feel when their stuff is taken. make her write a letter of apology and deliver it in person and say she's sorry to her grandmother. You have to make it clear to her that this isn't acceptable behavior and get her to realize that the thrill of taking things isn't worth the punishment she will get when she is caught. Otherwise you may have a shoplifter on your hands later, that can really mess up her life.

Answer 4

I think the idea to have her talk to a police officer is fabulous! Kids are intimidated easily, having a cop stand over her in uniform with the gun and the handcuffs hanging from his belt will do the trick. Call your local police station and explain the situation, I'm sure they would be willing to work something out with you. I'm sure it would just be as simple as a policeman telling her what can happen to people who steal (without scaring her too much). Maybe even let her see the jail.....

Answer 5

take her to the police station and have them tell her about juvenile hall, etc. and have them tell her that they can actually take her in at your request (into juvenile hall) (by the way, it's true, they really can!) i did the same thing when i was younger, except i was stealing money.. and it scared me straight! i was a really good kid, really good in school and at home, but for some reason, i started stealing money.. i don't know why i did it because i didn't really spend it (i was too little to get out to stores and stuff!)

you can also try talking to her and telling her how it hurts your feelings that she is taking your (and other people's) very special things that mean a lot to them, and that you really want them back because it gives you an ache in your heart..

ask her how she'd feel if someone took her most prized possession.. tell her that's how you feel without your engagement ring! i bet she forgot where she put it though! (my little sister did that once to me with another ring i have.. that my mother gave me..) maybe try offering to help her look for it..

and if nothing works, i say steal her favorite toy, or take away all her toys, and then tell her that she'll get them back when she gives back your engagement ring and stops her bad behavior!

hope i helped! :)

Answer 6

That sounds like a long time to be in a room. A shorter time but with the job of thinking about how to do better in the future might work better. A time out really isn't to hurt anyone, it's just to help guide the person. Perhaps think together with her what she thinks she might do about it, like draw a picture to give to your mother-in-law or to give to yourself (BUT I wouldn't force either of these things, just if she likes the idea).

Giving stars at your or your husband's discretion for positive things that she does might help the entire family remember and focus on those things. You could also decide upon the value of those stars. Maybe she could use them to get gifts for herself or for others.

I have found that thinking positively helps more than complaining about the negative. Recognize that someone needs to work to break a bad habit and appreciate good behavior.

Answer 7

I would explain to her the value of the items that she is taking and how upset people would be if they were lost. I would tell her no one likes a thief, you will always get caught and its not a good thing to do. Thats wot my mom did to me and it worked. Tell her that if she wants to play with things she has to ask.. If she still believes in Santa you could use that trick tell her Santa doesn't come to girls who steal. Sounds like she wants her own jewlerly to play with. Get some custome jewlerly or make her up a box of cheap stuff from Primark, Claires etc that should keep her amused. Don't punish her too much its likely to be a phase and she'll grow out of it

Answer 8

nicely I consistently look at TJ Maxx, Ross, Marshalls ect. they consistently have call type issues that are new of coarse. I have been given a sprint one jogger, for $seventy 5 that grew to become into usually $200. great candy deal! i'm consistently conserving my eyes open for a crib and toddler station and that i purely have 5 weeks to bypass. I examine for dent and scratch revenues. some shops additionally carry merchandide from objective and such. i don't be responsive to of any black friday bargains yet i'm gonna be finding for my massive products that day!

Answer 9

Since shes still pretty young and if shes normally a really good kid maybe shes doing it for another reason.....anything else going on with her- i would sit down and talk it out with her and maybe have her make her grandma an im sorry card /or letter and make her return the jewelry... Children this age are still learning about reprocussions of actions so thats why i say -talk to her.

Answer 10

Talk to her about stealing and what could happen to her if she keep it up. Then take her to a police station and let the police know your situation. tell the police to talk to your daughter as well. have them put the hand cuffs on her and then you walk out the room for about 15 Min's just to scare her. If the police said anything to scare her then you won't have this stealing problem again. Try it I did it with my kid and it worked.