WWGBCN Do? Granddaughter has "sticky" fingers

[flex]

Apparently Nana's house is full of treasures because for the past couple visits here she takes something from my house and then lies about where she got it. lol It's pretty obvious where the stuff comes from but she's 5 and isn't very worldly.

Anyway, DS and I were wondering what to do besides lecturing her. I know she's just being impulsive, and I'm fairly certain this is just a phase, but we don't want this to turn into a habit.

Any suggestions/advice?

[sterl724]

Make her return it and apologize next time?

[dcannie]

maybe if you phrase it, "we know you got X from this drawer. if you want to borrow something in the future all you have to do is ask."

[flex]

She's returned the last item and apologized, but it's happened again.

I guess repetition with owning up to it and apologizing is the key here. It's not like she can be grounded. lol

[saraandmichael]

she's 5!?! i could have sworn she was born after e was.

call her on it. have her apologize and tell her all she has to do is ask.

[bonquiqui]

Invest in

[mypunkinpie]

You're right, Flex. Make her return it and apologize every time. How is she getting the items out of Grandma's house without anyone seeing her? Check her pockets or whatever before you leave and deal with Miss Sticky Fingers immediately. And I don't think 5 is too young to have a favorite toy or game taken away as a consequence.

[Deleted]

I agree with teh poster who said 5 is not too young to have one of her favorite things taken from her.
That is exactly what I would do. Then explain to her that since she took something of someone elses, she needs to see how it feels if it was done to her.

[auntie]

Is something driving the behavior? Is it a bid for attention? Even negative attention? Is this part of a pattern of behaviors? Kids with ADHD and ODD sometimes steal. A one-off theft is very typical of the age, routine theft is not.

My younger niece, who has ADHD and bipolar stole constantly from this age. My mother had custody at the time and it cost her some friendships because people didn't want to deal with confronting the situation.

The obvious consequence, aside from an apology, is not being allowed to go to grannie's or being restricted to a room where she can be watched.