Would you turn your 6 year old in for stealing a pack of stickers? Would you allow the cops to place them into the squad car and haul them off for shoplifting? Check out this video. A mom wanted to teach her 6 year old a lesson for shoplifting, so she turned her daughter into store security. To enforce the lesson, they called the cops and placed her in the squad car.When I saw the video my response was wow. I asked myself if I would have gone to that extreme. I never had a problem with my daughter stealing, but I certainly would have wanted to teach her a lesson. I’m thinking my solution would have been to make my daughter put the stickers back since we were still in the store and I would have further explained that stealing is wrong we must pay for items that we take from a store.
I’ve heard of parents using this tactic and the cops playing along. I’m also wondering where a 6 year old learned how to steal. Her sister told on her, so they’re obviously being taught right from wrong. I also wonder why she just didn’t ask her mother for the stickers.
Whatever the reason, I hope she learned a lesson. Children usually steal to get even, to get more attention, or so they can give themselves or someone else a gift. It seems that this little girl was stealing for herself, so I’m wondering if it was for attention or she’s feeling deprived at home in some way. In addition to teaching her child a lesson, maybe mom should take a look at herself and what’s going on inside her home. She may get to the root of the problem, and not have to deal with this action again.
Have you had a problem with your child or children stealing? Do you think this mom was wrong in the way she handled this situation? How would you have handled it? Please leave us a comment, we would love to hear your opinion.
Children DO need to know that there are consequences, but the last thing I want my 6 year old to feel when she sees a cop is fear. I want them to feel trust. I think if the child had done it BEFORE and talking or making an example by making her apologize and confess to the clerk/manager what they did didn't work, then I would agree with her actions – but that was a bit much IF the child had never done anything like that before. If the little girl were a bit older, perhaps… but 6 is pretty young for that type of response. Then again, maybe the little girl was mature for her age. She didn't really seem like it just watching her in the interview, but eh… I can't judge another parent. Personally, I wouldn't have done that.
When Briyana was like 5-6 she put some lip gloss in her purse at WalMart. She was acting VERRRRRY nervous and you could tell she was kind of guarding her purse like a hawk, really overdoing it lol So I asked her what the problem was because she was visibly acting different. Long story short, when we got to the check out, I took it from her and found the lip gloss. I gave it back to her and made her give it to the cashier and admit what she had done and apologize. I then told her that she won't always get what she wants, but that she can never take something that doesn't belong to her. We had a long talk about it – she was very ashamed that people knew she was trying to steal. We talked about God and I reminded her that he can see everything she does even when I'm not looking…
The next time we were in WalMart and heard the alarm go off at the door, I told her that is what would have happened if she walked out without paying for the lip gloss. She was terrified after that lol I think it really made a huge impression on her just feeling the embarrassment. I don't think that is something abnormal at all. Kids don't really know it's THAT huge of a deal unless you've had a reason to have that talk with them. They don't think of stealing like we do. Her explanation was that she was going to bring it back when she was done with it and that way I wouldn't have to buy it for her. She didn't know exactly how that kind of thing works.
I would make my child take them back up to the counter and apologize for taking them.
I think it has the same effect on children because they are embarrassed about getting caught. I've seen kids do it when I worked in retail
quite honestly I think the women lost her marbles. I saw that on television. I would of never done that to my child. Especially at the age of 6 yrs old.
8 I can see that. At 6 I don't think she understood the whole concept she probably thought it was a fun ride or just plain confused. Don't think her older siblings will be stealing thats for sure. Lol
That would scare them into never doing it again. I think she did the right thing so it won't happen again.
I think every child will try to at some point. I've never known a kid who didn't. That would be one way to teach them a lesson they'll never forget!
I would have did the same thing. We teach our children right from wrong. If they decided to do wrong then they have to face the consequences for their actions.
i sure would. When they have been assultive i have threatened to call the police.
I think it is important to teach your kids lessons. I come from a school of hard knox and my children will too
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for stopping by, we love comments. So sorry to hear about your grandmother's ring. Such a major loss. Did you ever get to the bottom of why she was stealing.
I think she did the right thing! I turned my daughter into the store for stealing as well, but no police were called I wish they were!
That stoped it there, unfortunately that was not before she stole a ring from me and lost it at school. It was from my deceased grandmother to my mom to me!
I think it's great that she turned her daughter in. It's nice to see parents getting tough, kids need it. They are too coddled these days.
As for why a kid steals, I think it's a bit harsh to blame it on the parents.
I stole extra folders for a trapper keeper at 8. Not because of anything my mom did wrong, she wouldn't buy them because they were expensive, I wanted them, so I stole them. Of course she marched my butt back in the store to return them when she found out the next day. Kids are responsible for their own actions.