The first time a small child steals usually takes place around age 7 and most children only try this once or twice. Some children become habitual stealers and need help. These are usually children who feel deprived for one reason or another, are less popular than classmates or are acting out hostility or anger.

When dealing with a school-age child who has taken something from a friend or a store, the parents have a job to do. They must make sure the child understands that stealing is wrong.

The process is simple and straightforward with only three steps.
1) Don't ask the child for explanations, forget about all the "why did" and "how could" you do this. Merely state that you know the theft occurred.
2) Say that stealing is wrong. Use simple explanations. "Stealing is wrong. You would not want anyone to take your doll. So it's wrong for you to take this doll." The child does not need a lecture or sermon on the starving children of ripped-off store owners. Never imply that your child is bad, just that he or she did a bad thing.
3) Establish restitution. See to it that the child takes the object back to the friend or store. Tell the child to apologize and say he or she will never do it again. Accompany the child but don't tell the owner of the object to be cruel or unduly harsh. It's OK for the child to feel ashamed but the child should not feel devastated by the parent or the shop owner.