Stories to help with lying and stealing

[pina]

Hi all, I am not sure whether this is the right topic to post under. My DD aged 8 has on and off exhibited stealing and lying behaviour, which has mostly been under control for a while. In the last week, however, it has escalated. I am sure I know why this is happening (she is under some stress) and I am trying to remove the stress from her life.

But given that this is one of her responses to stress, I need to find ways to help her deal with it, without making her feel frightened or stressed even more.

Someone has suggested I try to find a story that covers stealing and/or lying, and read it to her. So, they probably mean something like Aesop's fables I guess (and the boy who cried wolf is the most obvious one), but I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions of other stories that link with this; as the Aesop's fables can be a bit one-dimensional.

I have talked to her about it, and on a rational level she understands that stealing and lying are wrong, but I do think it would be good to cement it in with a few good stories ... or even movies, as she just loves films.

Thanks!!

Hello OP no 'expertise' in this area but just to clarify, may I ask does she take things from you or steal from classmates? Are they random objects or cash? When caught does she show regret or defiance?

Thanks Donkeys; sorry I missed your response ... and now we are all caught up in the holiday craziness.

She mostly takes from the teacher, the school, and once in a shop. Fortunately I saw her taking the shop stuff and got her to put it back on the shelf immediately. Once it was a 1 pound coin from my bedside. But mostly it is objects; often pencils and other classroom equipment, and sometimes little objects of desire, like a toy donkey or animal.

She will deny taking them, saying that they got into her stuff 'by accident'. Once she blamed the school cleaner for putting it into her pocket. When she does finally admit to taking, she is regretful, but she clearly convinces herself (until then) that she has not even actually done it.

It's eased up a bit now, but I am constantly vigilant, and I don't think we have solved the problem yet.

s/

My ds is like this OP, he try's to take things from shops to and lies and makes up stories. The other day he told the the teacher I sent him to the chipshop on his own in the dark to get dinner. He uses the accident reason a lot to. I have no idea what to do about it, sometimes I feel all I do is tell him off

The boy who cries wolf. My 4 year old loves it

Home alone may be a light hearted way to look at the consequences of trying to steal. Or maybe the classic comic books - the one with Minnie the minx in it I think. If I'm remembering properly she steals jelly babies in most stories.y sister had real problems with lying and pinching things around your DD's age and I remember it having real impacts on her friendships. My family was going through a really horrible time, one of our parents were terminally ill. Our carers helped her through it with light hearted stories as scaring her wasn't really a good idea at that time.
Good luck with your little girl :).