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Child Behavior (Expert Forum)
4 yr old that is a compulsive thief
Answered by
Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D. - Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Crisis Intervention
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
This forum is for questions and support regarding child behavior issues such: Child Discipline (behavior management), Normal Child Development, Parent-Child Communications, Social Development
4 yr old that is a compulsive thief
by Angela Schirrmacher, May 01, 2000 12:00AM
Her father and I have tried everything we can think of to get her to understand that her behavior will not be tolerated and yet she persists on doing it. She steals medicine that looks like candy and candy itself. She is driving her older brothers crazy and the rest of us. She seems to enjoy getting spankings, she hates being put in the corner in time out however after she gets out she is back at the same behavior; we have gotten rid of all the candy in the house and still she is into things she knows will get her in trouble. Over the weekend we even gave her a big bowl of stale halloween candy in the hopes of making her sick so she wouldn't want any more, however it seems to have made her worse than ever.
She went in to a bank office where she knew she could get candy and the woman was not at her desk so she just opened the drawer and helped herself. I don't know what else to do with her.
Please help!!!
She went in to a bank office where she knew she could get candy and the woman was not at her desk so she just opened the drawer and helped herself. I don't know what else to do with her.
Please help!!!
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., May 02, 2000 12:00AM
, May 02, 2000 12:00AM
Dear Ms. Schirrmacher,
Such stealing can be a sign of emotional disturbance. It often signifies strains in the parent/child bond. It would be wise to seek consultation with a mental health professional.
It sounds like you're trying to do your best, but spanking will not be very useful, and it worries me that you would deliberately try to induce illness in your daughter as a way to manage her behavior. If you pursue mental health assistance, the clinician can help you devise appropriate ways of responding to your daughter.
Such stealing can be a sign of emotional disturbance. It often signifies strains in the parent/child bond. It would be wise to seek consultation with a mental health professional.
It sounds like you're trying to do your best, but spanking will not be very useful, and it worries me that you would deliberately try to induce illness in your daughter as a way to manage her behavior. If you pursue mental health assistance, the clinician can help you devise appropriate ways of responding to your daughter.
