Complete family, prosperity, all that is enough – food, toys, clothes. And suddenly the child stole someone else’s thing or money. Parents are perplexed that they did wrong. Why do children steal and how to be in such a situation?
When my parents turn to me, whose child committed theft, I first ask: “How old is he?”Sometimes an answer is enough to understand how to proceed.
Age age is discord
Until 3-4 years old, children do not distinguish the world to “mine” and “alien”. They take a scoop from a sandbox https://www.brainship.de/ggbet-atsauksmes-no-spltjiem-par-ggbet-ru-29-279/ or things from someone else’s bag without shame. Kids do not evaluate their act as bad. For parents, this is an occasion to talk in an accessible form about the borders – their own and other people, about what is good and what is bad. This conversation will have to be repeated more than once – it is difficult for young children to realize such abstract concepts.
By the age of 5-6, children already know that stealing is bad. But at this age, brain departments are not yet formed that are responsible for self -control and will. The Stanford experiment with Zepfir showed: the only thing that will keep a five -year -old child from taking the forbidden sweetness from the table is the fear of punishment. And if no one notices the abduction, then he may not cope with himself and take the desired. At this age, consciousness is only ripening.
By the age of 6-7, children already regulate their behavior and follow social rules. The power of attachment to his adult is also already mature: it is important for the child to be significant and loved. And bad deeds are at risk. At the same time, the child becomes important to the child that he occupies among his peers. And the motive for theft can be envious of other children.