Stealing is a common misbehavior for children with ADHD. One of the characteristics of ADHD is impulsivity: acting without thinking. When a child with ADHD sees something she likes, she often pockets it, puts it in her mouth, or carries it away.

Later, when he has a quiet moment, he’ll take it out to get a good look at what he’s got. If it’s not as interesting as you thought, you might discard it.

When a boy is caught stealing, he impulsively lies to avoid losing his stolen loot and avoid discipline. (This is why stealing and lying often go hand in hand.)

The secret is to clearly see the behavior and remain calm. Approach the elements rationally and you will be able to overcome this.

A child will steal for the following reasons:

* He likes shiny or shiny objects, so he grabs them impulsively. This is common in children with ADHD.

* He wants something to chew on, so he steals food, gum or candy. Kids with ADHD often steal gum from convenience stores. These children also bite the collar and sleeves of their shirts.

* Wants to buy gum and candy, so steals money to buy them (common in older children with ADHD).

* Wants revenge; for example, if a classmate got him into trouble, he might steal a book from his school bag.

* Feels dispossessed, materially or emotionally abandoned: children steal, unconsciously to fill the feeling of emptiness in their hearts.

* Wants to escape depression: Inflated by cunning and the thrill of stealing, he can escape depression. He feels a temporary thrill when he is being chased.

Some parents simply threaten, “If you steal in the real world, you’ll go to jail.” The child thinks: “It’s okay for me when I steal at home and at school, so I could steal again and take the risk.”

A child may lie for the following reasons:

* You cannot admit that you made a mistake (the most common), for example, you broke a vase.

* He is afraid of punishment-remembers the pain of when he was punished before.

* You want to impress others with your background or skills, eg “My dad has 13 cars.”

* Does not want others to know about his shameful past; For example, she lives in a poor area of ​​the city.

* He does not know the difference between truth and lies, because he lies very often. He forgets about his lies, thus keeping the others very confused.

Yelling, threatening, and yelling do not change your child’s stealing behavior.

Use the following guiding techniques for lying and stealing:

Make sure your child has three meals and two snacks each day. Keep a fruit plate available for snack time. Have emergency sugar-free gum on hand in case your child seems desperate to chew on something. You’ll save a lot of shirt collars and sleeves.

Catch your kid every time he steals, and you must get logical consequences every time. Trace the origin of everything he says he found or was given. Insist on seeing a receipt for the items he says he bought. Otherwise, donate the item to charity or return it to the school lost and found.

Teach him the difference between “needs” and “wants.” When your eyes are fixed on something and you want to reach for it, you must learn to ask yourself, “Do I want it or do I need it?” If he just wants the pen his partner is holding, teach him to ask his partner, “Can I hold/admire your pen for a few moments?”

To train this skill, gather some novelty items (like the ones you can steal). Supervise him while he practices by saying, “Can I hold/admire your [novelty item] for a few moments?” Hand him the item and let him look at it for a few moments. Thank him when he returns it. At the end of this science experiment, give him a token. Teach him that he needs something if he can’t do without it, for example, air, water, food, and rest. If you need something, you’re justified in asking for it appropriately. For example, “Mom, it’s 6:00 pm Is dinner ready? If not, can I have a cookie because my stomach is growing?”

Teach your children to resolve arguments with clear and assertive communication, not with revenge.

Give your child ways to earn his allowance with good behavior and good grades so he can have money to spend. (I recommend using a token system.) Let him spend it as he pleases, even on sweets. She earned it.

Give him logical consequences for each robbery event. One of the most compelling consequences is paying restitution of three times the value of the stolen items. If your child has to pay three times the value of a $10 item and return it, he’ll learn that buying it with his allowance is worth the wait.

Train your child in values ​​and make him responsible for his actions with logical consequences. If you consistently use these methods every time you suspect he’s stealing, your child will probably decide that stealing is more trouble than it’s worth.

can you figure this out

Consistency is critical to a possible cure for child lying and child stealing.