Just found something in 5 yr old ds's bag that belongs to his friend

[Jemster]

My 5 yr old ds spent the morning at a friend's house and his mum took them out for a picnic.
When I emptied his little bag later I found something I didn't recognise. I asked him what it was and he said it was his friend's prize for a horseriding event. He said he took it by accident and didn't mean to.
I can't believe he didn't mean to as he must have put it in his bag.

I've explained its wrong to take other people's things and said we'll have to take it back. I'm worried what the biy's mum will think. My son is generally caring and kind and I'm surprised he's done this.
Any advice as to the best way of handling this?

Nope.lol. Text her? And say you found it in your sons bag and you'll drop it back?

Agree just giv eit back, keep it low key. Talk about how we don't take other people's stuff

He might have done it by accident. He's only young. Just give it back and don't make a big deal to the other mum.

DS did this last year, same age then as your DS. He took something from school. I just took it back and explained to the teacher that I'd found it in his coat pocket - she was fine, said it happened a lot at that age. A few weeks later his friend's mum popped by with one of DS's cars. His friend had put it in her bag after a play date at our house. I think it's pretty common at that age. They are learning right from wrong but are also taught to share and they have to learn that sharing doesn't mean taking permanently. I just explained to DS that it was wrong and his friend taking his toy made him realise what I meant when I said the teacher would be sad that he'd taken something without asking.

I don't think the other mum should have a problem if you're handing it back.

Children have to experiment to find out right from wrong. Your DS has tried out taking something from a friend. You have taught him that it is wrong and will give it back. Job done.

I'd only have a problem if you'd let him keep it like one or two people I would love to name and shame but won't

I don't think it needs to be a big deal just hand it back and "we appear to have come home with something that isn't ours"

I don't think it's that unusual at this age. My DS is 5 and last week I over heard his friend ask him if he could take home all his blue cars, DS said no and the friend said "check with your mum before you say no!"