3.5 yo stealing food

[Flojo1979]

My dd usually goes to nursery 5 days a wk but since its summer hols and I'm off work, its been reduced to 2 days.
A few days ago we baked biscuits together, and they were cooling on the rack, I let her have one after tea, I went to run her a bath and came downstairs to find she'd eaten them all. She blamed her brother and threw an almighty tantrum. I told her what she'd done wrong and not to do it again etc.
The next day after lunch I gave her a yogurt and went upstairs to chat to ds and she'd been in the fridge and eaten 7 yogurts. Today she ate most of the fruit bowl. And later was caught eating cheerios straight from the box.
She can't be hungry she has plenty of food.
And when I sit her on the naughty step or shout at her she doesn't seem to care then does it again.
Any ideas how to tackle her?

My dc are 3.5 and 5 so similar, especially re bickering.

I have a baby gate on the kitchen as dd (3.5) will take food. I wouldn't get upset or use emotive language like 'stealing' - she will grow out of it. Check out the locking mechanisms on the baby gates- some are much easier than others to open- even my 5yo can't do the one we have on the kitchen door. I really wouldn't call it stealing- but ignore people saying she must be hungry-sometimes you have to let them get a bit hungry or they won't eat proper food at mealtimes.

You will definitely be right about the change in routine. I try and keep a bit of routine over the summer- up dressed and breakfast by 8.30. At 9 we start an 'activity'- painting , making cakes or such like. I find it really settles them down if they do that at the start of the day rather than later. They often then drift into a nice game or separate games so I can get a bit done. We all sit down and make a bit of a big deal of lunch so that takes some time. Of course it doesn't always work- just something I have found helpful.

I would also try not to let her feel that her brother is 'sweet and meek' in comparison to her- he did not have a sibling, or only a tiny baby one to deal with at that age.

Ignore all comments from people who only have 1 dc about supervision- you can't be in several places at once. If its any help I really lower my housework standards over the summer hols- partly cos it will get mucked up again straight away, partly cos a row will always break out if I try and do any tasks that take more than 10 minutes or so!!

But please be reassured that you and your dc are perfectly normal!!!!

Thanx for the reassurance. Of course I don't use language like 'stealing' with dd, just used it to simplify that I find it unacceptable and worrisome.
Waw u do well being up and organised every day at 9. I guess I am but that's cos we r usually sorted before 6am in this house!
I think I need to crack down on routine, but with a 2 wk hol imminent then there's not much hope!
wanna that's pretty imminent! It'll soon come round!