If parents take the proper measures, in most cases the stealing stops as the child grows older. Child and adolescent psychiatrists recommend that when parents find out their child has stolen, they: tell the child that stealing is wrong. help the youngster to pay for or return the stolen object.
Children in this age group may continue to steal because of several factors, including the following: They may feel peer pressure and the need to fit in. They may have low self-esteem. They may not have any friends and may be trying to "buy" their friends.
Provide Consequences
Aim to connect the consequence to what they stole, and ideally, they should be aware of what will happen if they steal before the behavior occurs. For example, a child who constantly takes their siblings' favorite toys without permission may benefit from having to loan their toys to a sibling.
Keep the focus on your connection with your child, not on the theft, and you'll be in the best place to prevent further stealing. Help your child see honesty and integrity as better choices. Trust, openness, and respect feel a lot better than more money or new things.
Emotional problems, peer pressure, low self-esteem, bullying, or neglect could prompt a child to act out and steal. Research has shown that children who lie and steal may have underlying conditions such as conduct disorder, ODD, or an emerging personality disorder.
You tell them that the behavior is unacceptable and that you will be watching your money much more closely. If your child continues to steal from you, it's time to try to find out what he is spending this money on. This may lead to uncovering other behaviors that will have to be addressed.
An appropriate negative consequence for an infraction like stealing is closer monitoring and never being out of an adult's sight. She must ask permission to go into another room, and she must report her whereabouts frequently.
There are a number of reasons why a teen may be stealing including fitting in, attention or they feel they need an item that they know parents may not buy them. Teen who are lying could be because they do not want to get into trouble, to protect themselves or to avoid a conversation with their parents.
Some children may steal to gain attention from adults or peers. Or there may be emotional or psychological issues and the child uses stealing as a method of coping. Stealing may indicate a child is struggling with something deeper and needs help addressing the root cause of their behaviour.
Stealing may cause the release of dopamine — another neurotransmitter. Dopamine causes pleasurable feelings, and some people seek this rewarding feeling again and again. The brain's opioid system. Urges are regulated by the brain's opioid system.
Respond, don't react
It's helpful to think of your child's manipulation as a strategy to get her needs met rather than a sneaky tactic. When you approach this behavior with curiosity instead of being judgemental, you may discover why she's resorting to behaving this way.
You should not punish or corner your child when they're caught in a lie. This can lead to more serious lies or resentment. Instead, remain calm and explain to them why lying is wrong. You can also provide them with facts.
The most common forms of therapy for stealing include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Psychodynamic treatment, and Group therapy/12-step programs. CBT helps people change their thinking in order to change their feelings and behaviors.
Let's recap. There's no evidence to suggest that people living with ADHD lie more often than those who don't have the condition. But there are many situations in which someone with ADHD might lie as a coping mechanism, to cover up an impulsive behavior that wasn't thought through, or without even realizing it.
A common example is telling a lie to cover up a mistake and avoid getting in trouble. They may also tell lies when they're feeling stressed, are trying to avoid conflict, or want attention. Sometimes kids lie when something bad or embarrassing has happened to them.
It's not uncommon for children with ADHD, especially your daughter's age, to exhibit impulsive behaviors such as stealing. Children are curious creatures. Their natural inclination to explore helps them understand the world around them.
Once your child hits puberty, you can generally expect moodiness and a roller coaster of both distress and happiness. 1 "Due to hormonal changes and additional challenges, this age group shows mood swings, low self-esteem, depression, and aggression," says Dr. Gott.
Discipline and Boundaries
"A middle road approach, like with the authoritative parenting style, is generally best," recommends Dr. Sheff. This means not being too permissive or too authoritarian, but rather considering your child's viewpoint and feelings while also maintaining boundaries and structure.
Shoplifting and Depression
Shoplifting is oftentimes due to depression. Many scholarly studies have linked depression and other mental issues and shoplifting.