What do you do with a 4 year old who keeps stealing?

Question

My 4 year old daughter keeps stealing food from the kitchen. She's a big sneak. I don't even hear her doing it. But I find the evidence in her room. How can I break this habbit. I put things up high, I caught her climbing the cupboards. I put things in the storage room in the basement, I caught her sneaking there.

She also likes to go into her big sisters room and take things. If she just took them that would be one thing, but she breaks them. I'm at my wits end with this kid.

Answer 1

Maybe you should try telling her no, and swatting her little butt

Answer 2

How about a time out after a swat on the but. Maybe you need to explain to her about stealing and also about her choices of foods. Also get rid of all the bad things that she's taking.

Answer 3

How 'bout a little thing called discipline?

A 4 year old can be spanked on the bottom with an open hand...that is NOT abuse.  

You could try time-outs, but I've seen that strategy used before on kids and I've never seen it really work.

Take toys away, try a time out (you might have better luck), spanking, etc.  

It is time to start disciplining NOW so that later on you don't have an out of control child.  

Answer 4

As far as food, we have a lock on our fridge, actually, it's a bungee cord but our kids both like to get in there and so we have the bungee to keep them out. My daughter is 4 and son 2, they can't  undo the bungee so ... and the cupboards. get safety locks for all of them so she can't open those too. Get a latch/ hook lock for the basement door or a regular door lock.

Also, maybe get one for your older daughter's room on the outside so she can "lock" her room when she isn't in there and your younger can't get in.

I also agree with everyone else. A good swat on the backside does wonders mom.

Answer 5

Is she not getting enough food at meal times?

You need to stop this behavior now! The key is to find out why she is doing these things. Is she jealous of big sister? Does she get enough positive attention from you? Have you sat her down and talked to her about why stealing is wrong? Ask her why she does it? She's old enough to reason with. Come up with a plan- if you take something that doesn't belong to you, then you need to have a consequence. Then follow through. Take a priviledge away from her. Something she really likes or values. She needs to know that there are consequences for our actions. When you notice she hasn't done it for several days then I would reward her. Let her know you are proud of her for trying really hard to do the right thing.

Also, she needs to be reminded of respecting other people's property. How would she feel if someone broke her favorite toy? Does she have good role models? She's learning this behavior somewhere- check around and make sure it's not you or someone in the house that might be doing the same things. Be kind and gentle with her- she's only 4, but also be very firm and lay down the rules lovingly.

Answer 6

A lock on her sisters door and offer her free range to a shelf in the fridge with all healthy things.

Or tell her it is not n this stealing and give her a d**n good smack if she does it again. She is old enough to understand when told not to do something

Answer 7

a spankin

Answer 8

Make a chart of cosequences!  She is getting away with it so why not keep it up?  !st offence, a warning and an appologie) 'sorry I took it without asking'. Next time take something of hers, (don't make it  a screaming match) just remove it the next day if necessary, but have some ground rules before she gets it back again.

Answer 9

A tap on the butt wouldn't hurt.

Answer 10

You need to find out why she is doing it. Just stopping her doing something will make her do it/want to do it more. Is she jealous of her sister, or that perhaps she thinks her sister gets the good stuff? Ask why she wants food in her room. Explain the kitchen is the only place for food because it will bring bugs where ever it is, and she doesn't want bugs in her room.

My sister ate stuff in bed, she'd sneak it in, and then there were bugs! She was picked on and ate becuz of that. Kids develop nervous habits, like eating, biting nails and compulsive washing when nervous. My older brother picked on my sister often. Dad picked on everyone. You can set up a video and watch the whole house and just see what's going on, why, and when.

Also, ask her how she would like it if her sister were to sneak in and take her (list favorite) stuff...!  Hope this helps. Make sure she's not taking stuff at the grocery store. If she does, make her take it back. They learn REAL fast doing that. I did... I was 5.

Answer 11

This is a tough age because they are just learning how to be sneaky and they just think its funny. I believe at that age they dont understand that it is really bad.  I would probably start by not buying any snacks, unless you could find a sure fire way that she will not get into them. We love our babies so we sometimes dont see too much harm in some of the things they do so we tend to be a bit lenient. Which later effects them more then we know so it is time for you to start to be more stern. Make sure you let your baby girl know that you will no longer accept that kind of behavior and make sure there are punishments that fit the bad things that she does. By putting locks and little mazes for her only makes the task more challenging for her. It is just time to put your feet down hard mom. Trust me she will moan and groan but it will definately hurt you more then it hurts her. For example if she goes into her sisters room and takes something you make sure that the family knows what she has done and you tell her how wrong it is and in the real world you go to jail for this. Make her take back the item and apologize to her sibling. Give her a time out and explain to her how wrong it is and why she should not do this. Always be stern but loving. Good luck.

Answer 12

Hmm, I have never heard of this kind of behavior before. What is her consequence for taking food without asking? Maybe set some house rule in place and for your older child she needs to have a child safety lock on her door to keep her younger sister out. Again what is her consequence for taking things from her sister? She must have some sort of punishment for her bad behavior especially at 4. She knows right from wrong. Is she doing this odd behavior for attention from you? Try to get to the bottom of it asap.

Good luck