kids advice

[Mudranger1]

anyone else have this problem and how did you solve it...My 8 yr old son has started stealing stuff from family and friends...haven't found anything from a store or what not.

 

[elk_hunter]

About that age (maybe a year or two younger), I stole a pack of gum from a store. Being all covert, I pulled it out of my pocket and was playing with it and just as I was about ready to open it up and eat a piece, my mom catches me. She marches my azz back into the store, calls the store manager and the clerk, makes me apologize publicly and I got reamed by the store manager (she told him to do that) with customer after customer walking by staring at the debacle. Then, when I got home and mom told dad later that evening, I enjoyed a red azz on top of the public humiliation. Never ever dabbled there again. Lesson learned.

 

[idnative1948]

One of the girls was kind of doing that about that age. Found the hidey hole and it looked like a packrat had a stash.

Long story short explained that a person that steals will end up in jail sometime. More importantly asked how it would make her feel if a friend or family member took something of hers that was real special to her because they wanted it just 'cause. That part pretty much hit home along with the admonition that she had betrayed our trust and will take some work to gain it back. Isn't parenthood just *grand* sometimes?

 

[idnative1948]

About that age (maybe a year or two younger), I stole a pack of gum from a store. Being all covert, I pulled it out of my pocket and was playing with it and just as I was about ready to open it up and eat a piece, my mom catches me. She marches my azz back into the store, calls the store manager and the clerk, makes me apologize publicly and I got reamed by the store manager (she told him to do that) with customer after customer walking by staring at the debacle. Then, when I got home and mom told dad later that evening, I enjoyed a red azz on top of the public humiliation. Never ever dabbled there again. Lesson learned.

A big *high-five* to your parents! We as parents and grandparents tread a slippery slope now days should we correct behavior like was done in the day.

 

[Mudranger1]

thanks guys but I have tried both of these(kind of elk no store involved) and were i feel like it is going to work I just keep finding more shit...his back side has been lit up beyond red I don't know anymore that's why I'm asking

 

[mixedbag]

Sounds to me as though elk hunters parents have it about right;thats what I'd do to my kids.Since its not a store but friends,I'd take all his stuff and give it back a little at a time as he deserves it.My stepson pulled that act at school in 1st grade.He thought he was a tough guy taking other kids lunch money.When I got done he didn't think he was so tough;no I didn't touch him
Never had a problem again.

 

[drahthaar]

Do you know a police officer or sheriff deputy as a friend? Have him come over and "arrest him", or give him a huge scare, threaten him with juvenile detention or an orphanage or something, I don't know. I have heard of someone doing this.

Maybe the kid will know it's all a farce, who knows.

 

[Mudranger1]

lol...Dra I just got telling him I was going to personally escort him to jail if it happened anymore

 

[elk_hunter]

Do you know a police officer or sheriff deputy as a friend? Have him come over and "arrest him", or give him a huge scare, threaten him with juvenile detention or an orphanage or something, I don't know. I have heard of someone doing this.

Oh yeah, I was going to chime in with this...it's a helluva tactic. You could have one of the kids log a stolen items report or whatever and get a friend cop involved to do the investigation/handcuff/jail type thing and see if that does it. Maybe the sheer fear/reality of being at a station, handcuffed, etc. would do it...

 

[Mudranger1]

no cop friends here only in Florida

 

[Wyodeerhunter]

some willow will solve that.

 

[Dinkshooter]

Show him pictures of hand amputees and explain that they got caught steeling long ago.

 

[noharleyyet]

stuff from family and friends...

ranger, if all else fails, teach him to steal from strangers.

Seriously, you might consider counseling if the behaviour persists.

 

[sweetnectar]

Every kid is different and your his best shot at figuring out what is going to work to help him. I always like the idea of restitution for mistakes. So perhaps he could return the items personally to the people he took them from. Ya the air will be thick and tense and it is going to be ackward feeling, but it should teach a really good lesson. But, your still the one that has the best chance and knowing what will work...you know God tells parents things about thier kids.

I just got telling him I was going to personally escort him to jail if it happened anymore

Better make good on your promises or he'll only believe some of what you say.

 

[elk_hunter]

no cop friends here only in Florida

Dang...if only my BIL was still in the Springs...he was a cop and could have really played this up. Hell, come to think of it, I could ping my BIL and see if he has a buddy he could recommend to stand-in for him. Let me know...

 

[thecrittergitter]

I feel your pain a little on this one. Don't have one stealing but have an 8 yr old daughter that seems to think she is the boss. It amazes me sometimes the attitude she gets with us and normally its in a place I can't beat the bad sense out of her I remember back in the day, if i got lippy with my dad, I took an azzwhippin something fierce.

So i too am working on many approaches to getting the bitch out of her before she gets any worse Course if she stays snotty, maybe no guys will want to be around her in a couple years

 

[Devil Diver Down]

MudRanger- My advice would be to take some of his belongings and put them in a pile out front and let the neighbor kids know they're free and clear to come and get it. Nobody likes having their stuff taken and people, unfortunately, usually only learn through pain.

Critter- I wish you the best of luck. My niece got that attitude at a young age. My sis & bro-in-law thought it was "cute"and didn't really discourage it. Now she's graduating from high school--her **** don't stink and she runs her mouth at just about everyone in the family. Just about. She won't pull it with my wife or me because she knows it won't go.

When my boys got too big for their britches and wanted to take the reins, I usually let them for a bit. I'd have them make every decision for a little while: what we should eat for dinner, which way I should turn the car (that was a real favorite), what we should next, etc ad nauseum. They decided in pretty short order that it wasn't too fun calling all of the shots. When all else fails, now that they're teens, I just put them in a headlock until they see the light. :hump:

 

[174in]

Sounds like you tried the old fasion tricks.If the boy has younger brothers or sisters explain to him that he needs to set a good example for them.That is about the only advice I can give you as my son is only 2 a pop on the but works for him right now at this age or taking away his toys.

 

[putm2sleep]

Funny story. Timely maybe? -- my wife was on the way home yesterday after picking up my 3 year old daughter. She saw the chain gang picking up trash on the side of the road with orange vests on as guards stood watch. She asked, 'what are those guys doing with orange vests on, and why are they picking up trash mommy?' My solution : use every moment as a teachable moments. Not sure there is one solution, you will have to try many. Communication is critical, so call him out and ask him why? It may be that he just needs your full attention and you must focus on him for a week, or a month, or the next year. Watch him like a hawk. >>>My wife explained what happens when you are bad. I do not have the problem yet (my son is 6 and has the hunting/fishing bug. The only thing that I have missing are fishing lures from the tackle box, elk and duck calls and hope I never do. Good luck. If the problem persists, I could provide you with an application to my 4 week, outreach, 'fix-a-kid' boot camp.