Lying and stealing

The best way to keep your child off the path of lying and stealing is to set a good example at home—even when you don’t think they are listening or understanding what you are doing.

Traditional treatments for lying and stealing 

If you notice your child is occasionally lying or stealing, especially if they are over they age of three, you can:

• carefully explain the difference between make believe and reality, lying and telling the truth
• talk about the importance of honesty at home
• offer alternatives to lying and stealing
• firmly tell the child that lying and stealing is wrong
• take your child to pay for or return the stolen object
• make sure there is no kind of reward for the lie or theft
• try not to lecture or call your child a liar or thief

If your child is lying and stealing on a regular basis, you may benefit from meeting with a child psychiatrist, who will try to identify the real reason that your child is acting out. When treating, the doctor will help your child develop more trusting relationships as well as helping the entire family create a solid support system.