PLZ help regarding my 5 year old son!!!?

Question

I have a 5 year old son who has always been very well behaved. His father hasn't really been around (he decides when he feels like seeing his son as long as it's convenient for him). I am engaged to a man who I have been with since my son was 2 and he treats my son like he is his own (we also have a 2 year old daughter together). Everytime over the years when my son acted up we put him on a time out (1 minute for every year of his age) and that has worked wonderfully. Lately my son has been stealing and hording food and other peoples things. In the morning, he unplugs my alarm clock, goes into the pantry, and takes cakes, cookies, crackers, drinks, brownies, candy and boxes of cereal along with any other things that he wishes to have..and hides them in his room where he eats everything. He doesn't have a weight problem...he is average or maybe a little small for his age even though he eats A LOT. Since I started to catch on to this act, I put a lock on the cupboard doors which he opens

Answer 1

First take the food out of the house. telling him to eat healthy but having that food in the house for everyone else is a double standard.

Second stop giving the t.v. back. He knows that he is going to get it in back in a days time,so doesn't faise him one bit that it's gone. Does he get to watch t.v. out in the living area? Take it away and don't give it back....ever. He has obviously gotten that right taken away.

And third, if he keeps taking his sisters stuff, make him pick one toy of his he has to donate to good will,

he will eventually learn that his actions have direct consequesnces.

Answer 2

I think there's more going on here than simply being naughty.  5-year olds can be pushing boundaries, not listening, selective hearing, aggressive behaviour, etc but on the basis of what you've described I'd say you need to sit down and have a talk with him.  There must be a good reason (known only by him) for why he's acting this way.  Does he get lots of love and affection at home or has it got to the stage where you are constantly thinking discipline instead of love and praise?  Is there any jealousy between him and his sister?  Do you have opportunities for one-on-one time with him?  I'm not trying to make it out to be something that you're doing wrong, just that if there is anything from your end it could be easier to fix.  Does he have a good imagination?  Could you try "talking" through puppets or dolls or something to try to glean some information from him?  Could he have seen something on TV or heard something at school that could have influenced his behaviour?  Could he be stressed about something?  The behaviour sounds odd but there is usually a reason behind it so the sooner you try and find this out the better.  Good luck!

Answer 3

this child is under a lot of stress and eating may be his way of handling it. how about not bying the stuff to begin with and get stuff that he can fix himself like instant oatmeal and that way if he sneaks food at all at least it will be healthy and i dont know why you have all of those things any way , as far as he is concerned brownies are as healthy as marshmellow cereals with lots of sugar.

you may need to set up some boundries with his father. go through the courts to set up visitation and make it to where so he cant upset the house hold when it is conveniant for him.

give your son a little info about the situation on a childs level there are books out there for children to help them understand tough situations that they cant control. and communicate with him some more and not at him.

my son eats a ton of food and he is also diabetic so i set up a schedule of what he is going to eat, how much and what times he will be eating and it takes alot of stress of him and helps him cope better. if you really have tried everything and nothing gets through i would take him to a counselor in your area for advice. and good luck to you

Answer 4

5 is a pushing the limits year.

Have you tried sitting down and talking to him without the punishment?

Talk to him calmly and as if he is a big boy and see what you can get out of him. If he is not willing to talk tell him you will go and do something but he is to call you when he is ready.

Also consider anything else happping health wise or at school.

Remember too that 2 [your daughter] is a demanding age. Examine whether your daughter is acting up too, getting more attention and your 5 year old just needs comfort from food.

Answer 5

Wow. maybe he is feeling unimportant. Make him feel specila. Only you and him. Go on a day to chuck e cheeses with him, paying all the attention to him .:] must suck for him.

Answer 6

i wouldnt suggest what luckygins said either way. try spending more time with him every now and then.. and maybe keep the tv away from him for longer he probably knows he'll get the tv back the next day either way so he thinks "ok i can do this a lot and it'll only be a day"

Answer 7

Sounds like you need to get a key lock and maybe a combination lock and make sure you hide the key in a place he can't find and don't let him see what the combination is.

Answer 8

Theres gotta be a reason....  I'd ask a councelor of some sort to talk to your son.  Have you asked him why he does this?  Kids that normally are well behaved usually have something going on to make them misbehave.

Please check into this further.

Answer 9

I believe, you son is seeking attention. He's learned that taking food, or his sister toys gets him attention.

Set aside a few minutes every day, to spend with him, without the other children interrupting. Talk and listen to what he has to say.

Then, I'd move your alarm clock. Just change where it is...make it harder for him to unplug it. Put a battery in it, so it still wakes you even if unplugged.

If that does not work, take your son to the store, and let him pick out a cereal.  If he picks something that is healthy, he can get his own breakfast in the mornings, and not have to wake up.

If he picks a sugary cereal, accept this, and tell him that on Mondays (any day will work), he can have his "special" cereal.

If he has his speciall cereal on other days, he'll loose his TV.

Don't return it for 2 or 3 days.