Kleptomania in Children, Here's How To Overcome It

A child with kleptomania may take home belongings from a friend or something he sees in the store. However, the motive for taking this item is not based on need, but purely because of the desire to take it.

When the urge to take an item arises, a child who has kleptomania will feel restless or tense, and can only calm down when he manages to take the item.

The items taken are also not valuable or important items. In fact, the item may not be used at all. Usually, he would keep his stolen goods or even give them to someone else.

Keep in mind that people with kleptomania can feel guilty and regretful after stealing. Even so, they still couldn't resist the urge to steal it another time, so this kept repeating.

Tips for Parents to Overcome Kleptomania in Children

If you suspect that your baby has kleptomania, you should consult a psychiatrist or psychologist. This is because the child's naivety and ignorance that it is wrong to take other people's things is often misunderstood as kleptomania in children.

If your child is experiencing kleptomania, a psychologist or psychiatrist can provide him with cognitive behavioral therapy specifically designed to treat kleptomania in children. To support the success of this therapy, there are several things you can do, namely:

1. Understand and accept the child's condition

Mothers need to know that kleptomania is different from stealing as thieves usually do. As previously explained, this is a mental health disorder that can trap the sufferer in feelings of anxiety, stealing, and guilt over and over again.

In fact, the cause of kleptomania until now is not really known. However, some research suggests a link between kleptomania and hormonal imbalances in the brain. So, this is not a problem for mothers to pay less attention or pocket money to children.

It's natural that you may feel sad and a little disappointed with your baby's behavior. However, understand that he may also not understand what really happened to him. So, slowly accept the situation, don't feel guilty, and keep pouring out your love for him.

2. Discuss this condition with the child

Mothers still have to instill that taking other people's things on purpose is wrong and has consequences. However, remember also that a child with kleptomania may feel stressed and confused by the feelings and urges to steal that occurs to him.

Your child may also be embarrassed or afraid of being mistaken for a bad person if he admits this to his friends. So, Mother needs to be his interlocutor. Don't let him keep his feelings to himself.

You can ask her how she felt when she stole and how she felt afterwards. Tell him that you understand that this is a difficult situation for him. If your child admits to feeling guilty, tell him that it is a good sign, because he knows what is right and wrong.

3. Teach children to admit mistakes and apologize

If you see your little one bringing home something that doesn't belong to him, the first thing you should do is ask him nicely. Don't get angry right away, bud. When he has confessed, invite him to go to the owner of the item and ask him to admit his mistake and apologize.

Your little one may be scared while doing this, but you don't need to apologize for it. Let him learn to be responsible for himself. After that, though, make sure you calm him down and thank him for his efforts in apologizing.

4. Teach children relaxation techniques

When experiencing the urge to steal, children who experience kleptomania will find it difficult to control their urges and eventually feel anxious. To overcome this, you can teach him relaxation techniques.

This technique is expected to suppress the impulse that arises and reduce the incidence of stealing. Ways that can be done, for example, take a deep breath and exhale several times in a few minutes, think of a beautiful place, or focus your mind by counting.

5. Distract the child's attention with other activities

Whenever you are with your child and see signs he wants to steal, you can try to prevent it by diverting his attention to other positive activities.

For example, if you are going shopping, invite your little one to be busy choosing the ingredients for the dinner menu. That way, your little one's attention will be focused on the items to be purchased.

In addition, Mother can also monitor him and immediately take over when he looks like he wants to steal by inviting him to do relaxation techniques together.

Children with kleptomania may feel ashamed or even hate themselves because they have habits that are not commendable and can harm others. Therefore, Mother and Father must continue to show affection and attention to the Little One, so that he understands that he is valuable and loved.

Also, don't compare yourself to other people or your own siblings. Also try to always be patient and not be too hard on him. Set boundaries when to be angry and when to understand the child's situation. This is important so that the mental health of children is maintained.

Overcoming kleptomania in children is not an easy thing, because it takes patience and consistency. If you find it difficult to deal with the kleptomaniac behavior experienced by your little one, don't hesitate to ask for advice or help from a psychologist, okay?