Do you let your child keep things they find?

[thepingaloos]

Just trying to figure out if I am being a bit mean to my DC really.

I have always said if we find something in the street we leave it there in case someone comes back for it (those bits and bobs that have a way of getting lost, hats, little toys, hair slides, or jewellery).

I was with a friend a few weeks ago and the kids happened to come across not one but two things and their DC was allowed to keep both items. My DC then asked me why they were never allowed. I always thought I was doing the right thing, my DC have lost things in the past and I've always gone back searching for them and I know even the most daft thing can be treasure to a child. So on that basis I always say to my DC to leave it be, it's not theirs. I also thought it was teaching them about it not just being 'finders keepers', in the hope that they'd always try to find the rightful owner of something. But now I just feel like a very very mean mum and I'm wondering whether I'm actually being a bit harsh on my own DC so thought I'd use mumsnet to do a straw poll. AIBU?

To be honest any single note of cash by itself , we'd keep and feel lucky , but anything inside a wallet or purse would go to the police or directly to owner if possible. Any jewellery we'd keep, especially if it was found in the sea or beach for example, or some place where lots of people would have congregated. To be honest my children had a metal detector and would purposely look for treasure at the end of the season.