Experts explain that occasional childhood stealing is often normal, but persistent behaviour may signal underlying psychological issues, prompting parents to seek appropriate guidance and intervention.
Children who bring home a classmate’s pencil, eraser or toy can unsettle parents, but experts say a single episode is not automatically a sign of a serious problem. Dr Rajiv Mehta, a senior psychiatry consultant at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, told Aajtak.in that in younger children the behaviour can stem from curiosity, attraction to an object or a wish to make it their own. The concern rises when it becomes repetitive, even after correction.
According to Mayo Clinic, compulsive stealing can be linked to kleptomania, an impulse-control disorder in which a person feels unable to resist the urge to take things they do not need. Cleveland Clinic and WebMD both describe it as a condition that may respond to treatment, including therapy and medication. Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that lying and stealing can appear in school-age children as part of development, but persistent or severe behaviour can point to deeper psychological issues.
Mehta said parents should take the pattern seriously if a child keeps hiding items, denies the behaviour despite clear evidence or continues stealing after repeated explanations. He added that if the child is older than 7 or 8 and the habit does not change, it may be connected to impulse-control problems or conduct disorder, a broader behavioural condition in which children repeatedly act in ways that disrupt family life, school and social relationships. The American Psychiatric Association says such disorders can begin in childhood and may continue into adulthood if left unaddressed.
The practical response, specialists say, is calm and direct. Parents should ask why the child took the item, explain the impact on the other child, avoid harsh punishment and seek medical advice if the behaviour becomes a pattern. Counselling can help, especially when stealing is part of a wider emotional or behavioural problem.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
