I have a 32mo foster son, he has been with us for 16mo. When he came to us he was severely neglected. He had never eaten food, had only had food from a feeder bottle. Immediately behaviors of hoarding began. He would pack his arms full of toys and just sit there. Then he would stuff his mouth with food, eat until he would throw up, eat from the trash can, sneak food, etc. He was involved with early childhood for speech and they watched these issues. They lightened up and then I had to beg him to eat, but he would still hoard the food. Still hoarding toys. Now he is sneaking and hording and coming up with stealing! I have to pat him down before we leave Walmart to be sure he didn't stuff anything into his pockets. He will leave his room at night, come into mine, take my slippers, book light, whatever he can find, back to his room and play with them where he thinks I can't see him.
The other day, he said, "Eat mom?" I wass so happy that he relayed this need to me verbally that I gave him a snack bag of pretzles and a sippy cup of milk, praising him for using his words. He stuffed them into a ride on toy when I left the room. I then took them away and said, "we eat at the table", he threw a fit crying, so I just put them both up. I don't know if this response (which I normally use) is helping or making it worse! He will hold 8 trains in his arms so no other kids can use them, I tell him, "2", and show him one for each hand. He waits until I'm gone, stuffs them all into his arms again, then when I see him a nd correct him he throws a fit crying again.
They released him from his program because developmentally he caught up. In the beginning he was developmentally 1/2 his age.
We have 6 kids under 8...this is NOT normal toddler non-sharing behavior. I truly believe he is intentionally being sneaky about it all. what do i do??