Teens and Stealing

Does your teenager have a problem with stealing? Maybe I can help with a few ideas with this issue.

Over the years we have found out a lot about teens and stealing. Many teenagers steal to get attention thinking that they will get attention even if it is negative attention. Also they, in their minds, feel unloved or unappreciated. They don't feel appreciated and all he/she is trying to do is make up for the pain they feel inside. This is I call "revenge seeking" behavior.

For this reason you must always make sure your teen feels love and appreciated at "all" times. You need to find ways to make sure they feel important to you and to the rest of the family. Try to separate their deeds from them and show them love while the "two" of you work out a plan to fix the problem.

Another reason I feel teenagers steal is that they feel that is the only way they will get the things that they want. I think that alot of parents take the idea of not spoiling them WAY too far and don't offer them anything in relation to owning things of their own of value to them that "they" want!

This does not mean that you give them everything that they want. Give them opportunities to earn money or give them allowances to allow them opportunitys to have these things that they want. That way they learn the value of a dollar AND get these things that they like and want. This could go a loooong way to preventing your teenager from stealing.

DO NOT leave your money and valuables out in the open or where it is tempting for your teen to take. Put them in a safe place out of temptation's way!

If you suspect that one sibling is stealing from another, suggest a lock box of their own to prevent and give them a sense of security of their prized possessions and money. That will also teach them be responsible in keeping up with things that are important to them as well as keeping them safe.

Last but not least, if you suspect that one sibling is stealing from another sibling, then there could well be some jealousy in your home. Ask your teens if they feel one of them is being favored over the other. Listen carefully and DO NOT dismiss their feelings. This is a very important issue to them and could be "key" to why the stealing is going on!

Even if you do not agree with them or believe them, do not dismiss them or turn the other way. Listen to what they have to say, tell them how you feel and keep the discussion in a positive light and leave it open so that they will always feel they can come back and talk with you again when they want to. Above all else, Do Not Criticize them for how they feel!