What Do You Do About Who...ahem...Take Things?

[Hunni Bee]

Today I went unbuckle a child's seat belt, where I saw one of the action figures from my classroom sticking out of his waistband before he tried to snatch his shirt down over it.

I (and the children) have been noticing that our small toys have been disappearing, but I couldn't pinpoint who might have been taking them. But now I know.

I know this kid's mom could care less if he comes home with toys that aren't his, but I still think I'm going to send her a note.

I know four-year-olds don't quite grasp the concept of stealing, but how do I keep my toys from going home with him everyday, short of frisking him before he leaves (which I will probably do for a couple weeks anyway).

[mac60]

I had a kid who did that, so frustrating. I did tell his mom, and I did check his pockets. He eventually stopped.

[TBird]

I know four-year-olds don't quite grasp the concept of stealing, but how do I keep my toys from going home with him everyday, short of frisking him before he leaves (which I will probably do for a couple weeks anyway).

He's grasping something if he knew to pull his shirt down!!! ::

[wdmmom]

Ask mom to stop sending him in clothes with pockets. Or change him at your house each day.

[Cat Herder]

I do the "get ready for going home" pat down.

This is one of the things I can no longer get parents to enforce.

I finally gave up even discussing it a few years ago. I just handle it myself.

The banks give the kids ****ers. The grocery stores give the kids cookies. The restaurants give the kids toys/crayons.

The kids think they are suppossed to get something everywhere they go. IMHO, that is why parents now believe that it is no big deal.

[caligirl]

He's grasping something if he knew to pull his shirt down!!! ::

My first thoughts exactly. Talk to the mom. Check his pockets every day.

[gkids09]

I had a 4 year old dcb doing the same thing a few months ago. I finally sat him down and told him that EVERY day from now on, I was going to check his pockets before he went home. And if I found anything in them, he wouldn't be able to play with my toys the next day.

It hasn't happened since I told him that...His mom thought it was hilarious, but he knows my rules are my rules and mommy can't change them because she's not there.

At 4, you can usually tell them something that they actually understand! I had to remind him throughout the day ONE day, just saying, "Remember, no toys in pockets!" and I haven't had anymore trouble!

[AnneCordelia]

A 4 year old is absolutely old enough to know not to take your toys. ABSOLUTELY. My 3yo's get it.

[daycare]

I had a mom call me one day and tell me my son has something he wants to tell you. So the DCK age 4.5 gets on the phone and tells me that he took a chess piece from my house. At first I was like ok and................

Then the mom goes on to tell the boy what do you tell Miss. ____________?

He tells me I really want to bring the chess piece back because I don't want to go to jail for stealing. I played along with it and the next day the first thing he did was give it back. I then told him that if every kid here was to take toys home then there would be no toys left to play with when everyone came. He asked me then what would we be allowed to do and I told him only homework. He said it was a bad idea.....

I was very thankful for this mom as she was one of those parents that didnt let anything slide.....

[MsMe]

I found out at the end of the summer that one of my SA boys was stealing from friends. Mom, Dad, AND grandparents. Not small things either. Ipods....and selling them to other kids, and more than $100 cash from Gma and Gpa.

I talked about it with my partner and it was her who reminded me my ipod had been missing for a few months. Now I am the type that 'would lose my head if it wasnt attached' and I have misplaced it before. Always with an idea a where I saw it last and it turns up in a couple of days. The last time I lost it I vowed to be more carefull......and put it in the pencil holder attached to the fridge. I saw it there everyday for a week or so and then all of a sudden it was missing. It really bothered me this time bc I hadn't moved it (ie was being lazy about going to the gym. Over the next couple of months I tore different parts of the house apart looking for it. no luck. I had resolved that I had lost it and was bummed I would have to buy a new one.
Unill my partner showed me the connection it hadnt even entered my mind and I am sad to think a DCB I have had for 8 years would steal from me.

he was punished severly at home and enrolled in a 'scared straight' type program (nothing like on t.v. just at our tiny two cell police station) School started and he joined CC so he no longer comes to my program before I could decide if I was going to talk to his parents. (all information I got was from little sister 10yrs)

I am not 100% positive he took it with my forgetfull history if feel bad blaming the 'bad kid', but this wasnt like the other times I lost it and this child had TONS of access to its location.

I know he was punished, his parents didn't let it slide, I am sure the ipod is LONG gone if he did take it, and he is no loger in my care.....I think I will leave it alone.

[MamaBear]

I had a little 2 yr old girl that used to do this! Drove me crazy wondering where random little toys were going. One day the mom came to pick up and she accidentally dropped a donut ring out of her shirt when her mom picked her up! Her mom was talking to me and I acted like I didnt notice at first until I realized the mom was kicking it out of view! I then said "Uh Oh - I think a toy fell out of the daycare" and I picked it up. I thought it was really weird how she didnt acknowledge it & was trying to hide it with her foot.

So then a week later the mom picked her up and was holding her --- I notice another one of my donut rings sticking thru her shirt. It was totally obvious and the mom totally saw it. The mom was turning around while she was talking as if to hide it from me!!!! It was super awkward because I realized the mom was trying to HELP her steal the toy!!!! So I said "Oops - does she have one of the daycare toys?" and the mom says "what the heck? I didnt even notice that!!" I was thinking "LIAR!!!!!" We ended up having to have a talk about the toys that were missing & she denied any toys going home... The girl never did it again because I checked her head to toe every day before pick up. Little thief and mama thief!!! Sheesh!

[Hunni Bee]

He's grasping something if he knew to pull his shirt down!!! ::

My first mind is that he probably does know...but I got into a discussion with someone who almost angrily informed me that kids that young don't get "If its not mine and I didn't ask for it, I can't take it"...they just know they like it and they want to play with it all the time, so they take it home.

I don't really care.

All I know is I'm getting tired of my toys leaving. People think because we're a center that we have tons of toys and we can easily replace anything, so its no big deal if their kid steals it. Wrong! Furthermore, a lot of the toys in my room were either donated, yardsale/thrift store finds or were MINE when I was a child, so they can't be replaced. Someone donated a Strawberry Shortcake playset that my girls worship...he has stolen half the pieces, including the Strawberry Shortcake figure.

Plus, how is it ever okay to take something that doesn't belong to you? That kind of blase' attitude will land the kid in front of a judge in 10 or 15 years.

I will start doing a pat-down hug at dismissal and checking backpacks daily.

[DaycareMomma]

When I first opened, I had a daycare girl that had went into my sons bedroom and taken his baptismal ring and took it home and then told her mom that I GAVE it to her! She knew that was awfully weird considering the ring was wayyy to small for the girl, so she called me and asked what happened. The next morning the DCG showed up, head completely hung and handed it back to me.

[Meyou]

I had a DCB hide something behind his back today and he's taken things in the past so I didn't let it go. Turns out he'd picked his nose and was hiding the booger. :: I just ask him to wash his hands if he picks here but he gets in trouble at home so he was hiding it "til he could give it a wipe with a keenex".