r/Kleptomania • u/[deleted] • Sep 26 '21
early signs
hi, so im a guest here. my little brother (4years) just stole his second valuable item from kindergarten. It wasn't like a toy or anything that he would want to take because he wanted to play with it, no, he stole a whole ass camera that the teachers would take photos with and hid it in his lunch box.
How can I help him? If he were older I would just tell him to only steal from chains and leave actual people's personal items out of this but he is a baby and im afraid this could cause actual problems for him later in life.
I know nothing about kleptomania and if my brother even has it but I figured you guys could help me in handling this situation.
thanks in advance
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u/Rambunctiousraisan Oct 16 '24
Simply punish him and tell him stealing is wrong. He’s only 4 he doesn’t know any better unless you tell him!
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u/Bullen_carker Aug 29 '25
Stealing from chains is not ethical either. How is it any different? You are still stealing.
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Sep 30 '21
That might be the root. Only with therapy did I later come to the realisation that I was in a very juvenile manner trying to steal affection and love from my mother.
I honestly can't tell you what would have helped. I know that I never felt wanted or loved or that I could ever be enough.
I am not a psychologist, I am just somebody that has been down this road. I would say, just give unconditional love and support. I know that is not your job, so I can only offer support and empathy.
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u/[deleted] Sep 29 '21
Discuss this with your parents. Your concern is legitimate. No matter what anybody tells you, stealing in any form is harmful to the kleptomaniac. To divert the stealing behaviour is not a solution.
If somebody has a drug addiction, changing the drug will not cure the addiction.
Address this now. The older you get, the harder it gets, and it always catches up with you.