Greetings - I'm brand new to the site and came across it in my search for answers on how to cope with my youngest son's lying, stealing, and anger. He is only 8 yrs old and we didn't encounter this level of behaviour with our two other boys. His stealing (little things so far) and lying (about the stealing) have landed him in hot water with his teachers, and just yesterday he got inschool suspension. Next time it will be out of school suspension.
My husband and I have tried everything. We've tried talking to him rationally, we've placed him on restriction, we took away his toys with the understanding that he could earn them back one at a time by making it through the week without taking things and then lying about it when he gets caught, we shake him down (search him) before and after school, we've yelled, we've cried, we've pleaded... Everything short of spanking him!
I am calling a psychologist to make an appointment on Monday - this is how desperate for help I have become.
C is a loving and caring little guy and has a tremendous spirit (something I refuse to let anyone trample on), but we simply can't get him to stop stealing and lying. And when he is caught he get's so angry, tense, and sometimes makes like he's going to crash his head into the wall or on the kitchen counter (although he never actually does - he uses his arms as cushion... but still it is frightening!).
My husband and I have tried everything. We've tried talking to him rationally, we've placed him on restriction, we took away his toys with the understanding that he could earn them back one at a time by making it through the week without taking things and then lying about it when he gets caught, we shake him down (search him) before and after school, we've yelled, we've cried, we've pleaded... Everything short of spanking him!
I am calling a psychologist to make an appointment on Monday - this is how desperate for help I have become.
C is a loving and caring little guy and has a tremendous spirit (something I refuse to let anyone trample on), but we simply can't get him to stop stealing and lying. And when he is caught he get's so angry, tense, and sometimes makes like he's going to crash his head into the wall or on the kitchen counter (although he never actually does - he uses his arms as cushion... but still it is frightening!).