8yr old stole ipod

[Chippychop]

My ds stole his classmates/next door neighbours ipod. When I challenged him he said he wanted a new one and just took it. - he said he knows it was wrong and was distressed. I told him to take it straight back round which he did without argument. He'd even put a password in and changed the home screen. I said to neighbour - when I called to apologise he didn't know how to get it back to normal and had panicked so took it for his dad to sort. Anyway DS asked me not to tell DH I said I couldn't as it was too serious a thing. I said DH would respect him more if DS confessed. But he refused and said I could tell DH when he, DS was asleep and he fell asleep crying. I'm mortified and shocked now. DH has agreed to speak to him when he gets home after school tomorrow and is going to take him to the prison to show him where he could end up. Any more advice in how to deal with his situation and prevent a reoccurance?

He's going to show him a prison?
From what you've said, I think your DS knows what he did was wrong and of course you should give a suitable and age appropriate punishment (confiscating his iPod maybe?) but I think taking him to a prison is going a bit far, maybe that's just me?

Please bear in mind we're both a bit shocked and disappointed at the moment I'll take on board your/all comments though

I think there needs to be some sort of consequence, loss of TV for a week or similar. I wouldn't take him to a prison but I would talk to him about how sad he'd feel if someone took one of his favourite things.

Prison, not a great plan.
He knows you're disappointed and I agree in an age appropriate punishment, such as confiscation of iPod, Xbox etc.
it's unlikely he will do it again, sometimes at that age you act on impulse and seriously regret it later.

You could ask a local policeman to talk to your DS and that may have a positive effect.

Maybe just take him a police station

Thx we weren't thinking of actually going in to the prison just stand outside -and had talked about finding the local bobby for a chat...

Are these sort of 'blips' (fingers crossed) just that or do you think there is usually an underlying cause eg my DM (83) is in hospital at the moment whom DS adores?

Well, I was going to ask whether he was usually a sensible/ well behaved child and if so, whether anything had happened to cause something so out of character.

I think his grandma being in hospital might well make him very upset and anxious and likely to do something silly. I have an 8 year old boy and they are still young enough to do very random things on impulse.

He needs to know you take this very seriously and that the police would be called if an adult did this. On the other hand I don't think I would take him to the prison or get a policeman to talk to him. I think you'd risk really frightening him and if it's a one off, it sounds as if he's already punished himself. He was brave to return it.

Obviously id watch v carefully for any repeats.

Your son knows what he did is wrong and I think you should just explain what might be the consequences if he doit again! But bringing him in a prison could affect him so much! at his age he might be traumatized if you will bring him in prison!