Once children begin to show an understanding of these concepts, parents should begin setting limits on stealing behaviors, and providing punishment when such behavior occurs. Why Children Steal Children take things that do not belong to them for many different reasons. These reasons can differ from child to child, or any one child can steal for a number of different reasons. Parents may knowingly or unknowingly reinforce stealing behavior. Parents who do not punish their children when they take things that do not belong to them may be reinforcing the behavior.
Children learn by watching their parents.
Parents who take things that do not belong to them, for example, parents who take supplies from the office for use at home, may be teaching their children that in some instances stealing is all right. Some children have no money of their own to buy what they want. Children who don't have their own money to spend may steal what they want. To make themselves look good in front of peers. Some children begin stealing because their peers are doing it and they want to be accepted by a certain peer group.