To wonder why my 3 year old keeps stealing!

[Ifonly2]

So my gorgeous 3 old son has randomly started stealing random things. He will say mummy I don't have anything in my pants which obviously means he does, he pulled out 3 toys from nursery. We was also at my mums house the other day and he put 3 drumstick lollies up his pants, I asked him was he ok and he said he had an itch but could see his pants bulging, Why is he doing this! He also steals money from DH pockets!

DS did this for a while. We used to have to frisk him as he left reception to take all the toy cars and things out of his pockets. We also got home from a day out one day, which ended with a walk through a gift shop of course, and found he had stolen a little plastic ring from the gift shop!
He did soon stop and is now a perfectly law abiding teen.
I think it’s quite common from what my friend a TA tells me.

DGS was a nursery toy stealer. He grew out of it pretty quickly

They haven't developed impulse control and don't understand the consequences of their actions yet.

They see something they want, they take it. Simple.

Just be consistent with checking pockets and reminding them that they shouldn't take things that don't belong to the,pm so need to put it back and say sorry.

Because he's 3 😉

My husband used to shove loads of stuff down his top when he was that age if he was left too long near a display in a store. 😂 No impulse control and it's probably fun for them!

My 3-yo steals nursery crayons up his pant leg. I tell him not to do it but he’s so pleased with himself. He’s not done it for a while now, maybe he’s learned not to now!

Have you actually told him that he shouldn't be doing it?

Personally I wouldn’t use the word ‘stealing’ with a 3 year old… he’s a little boy and learning…

Check before leaving nursery - calmly say:

‘these toys stay here so everyone can play with them. we have your cars / lego etc at home.’

definitely return the toys to right place if he smuggles any home - but don’t make a massive issue of it / Shame him….

it’s a phase in a very little boy.

DS was an adept shop lifter at that age.. packs of little shiny fixings from Ikea, loose hazelnuts from supermarket.. He took an elastic belt from a basket in the ballet shop while DD was having shoes fitted. I found this shortly after and we walked back to the shop where I explained and he said ‘sorry’ to the owner. He didn’t do it after that. Now fully grown, VERY law-abiding adult 😄

For it to be stealing, you have to understand the concept of ownership.
He is three and does not. He is simply taking things. Kids do this. You just need to check his pockets and explain that he can not take things. But there is going to be a lot of repetition until he gets old enough to actually understand what you are saying.