Responsible parents want to raise children who will grow up to be honest, upstanding citizens within the community. As such, many parents will spend years training their children, instilling values in them that harmonize with their ideals. This also applies to parents of special needs children. If your child already has a habit of stealing, you must address the issue quickly before it gets out of control.
Explain Why Stealing is Wrong
Frog-marking your seven-year-old back to the corner shop to return a stolen bag of sweets is often all that is required to teach your child that it is wrong to steal. The embarrassment and humiliation of being “caught” will stay with your child for years to come and act as a powerful deterrent for many.
However, if your special needs child does not comprehend why you are upset at their stealing, a single telling off will not usually be enough to stop the stealing. You will need to use tact and discernment to make it clear that stealing is wrong. Go over the lesson each time you are out shopping or the topic comes up. Or discuss stealing in terms that your child can readily understand.
Supervise Your Child
If your special needs child has a habit of stealing while they are out with you, it is important to be extra vigilant by supervising your child at all times. Rather than letting your child walk around, keep them with you, holding onto the trolley as you shop for groceries. Keep your child’s mind occupied by assigning them small tasks to complete, such as locating the bananas and grapes and then placing items into the trolley. Re-focusing your child’s attention can distract them from stealing.
Do Not Expect Special Treatment
While it is true to say that most special needs children are unlikely to be arrested and charged for stealing, that does not mean you should expect special treatment for your children when they are caught stealing. Stealing is still stealing, so be prepared if this happens. If this does happen own up straightaway, take the items back to where they came from and explain the situation. Most shop managers are understanding and will not press the issue any further once they have some background information.
Raising special needs children is not easy. Parents often experience have an uphill battle with a number of different government agencies as well as from strangers and society in general. If your child is in the habit of stealing, this can be a particularly stressful time. Fortunately, you can help your child to overcome this problem. But it will take a lot of hard work and dedication on your part to cure your child of stealing.
More from this contributor:
How to React when a Special Needs Child Has a Tantrum in Public
How to React when Strangers Stare at Your Special Needs Relative
Terms that Are Offensive to Relatives of Special-Needs Children
