Nursery World - Positive Relationships: Behaviour

Children will sometimes take things that do not belong to them, but this isn't necessarily stealing. Sue Chambers explains why.

In our nursery, we have a three-year-old who is constantly stealing equipment. His mum is getting embarrassed when each morning she returns whatever he has taken home the day before, and even though we've told him that taking things is wrong he continues to do it. The things he takes are usually small items like Lego or even puzzle pieces, but often it's a particular car. How can we stop him doing it?

Stealing and lying are, without a doubt, wrong but can we call what this little boy is doing 'stealing' or 'lying'? At what age do children actually know the difference between right and wrong and what is yours and what is mine? In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the age of criminal responsibility is ten and in Scotland it is 12.

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