My 3 year old daughter stole a lip gloss from the store...?

You should have taken her back to the store and have her give the lip gloss back and apologize.

Not a parent yet but getting closer. But when was little I stole a candy from the store, I was spanked, put in the corner, had to tell my mom when she came to pick me up, and had to tell the store person what I had done when I went back the next time. I personally never stole anything ever again. I was scared that I would get in even more trouble the next time. If she knew that she had to hide it in order to get it after you told her no she does understand. I personally would take her and the lip gloss back to the store if possible and tell her she needs to give it back, and apologize. Granted they won't be able to resell it since it was open and you may have to pay for it anyway, but you still need to install that it was wrong and bad.

I'm not a parent either but I remember when i was little and stole some candy from the grocery store I had to work it off. My parents made me do chores around the house until I had enough money to pay for the item. I also was grounded and wasn't allowed to eat any candy for a month. So I dont know something like that may be in order. And she knows exactly what she did, she just wanted it so she took it. I dont think she picked the idea up from anyone.

Good luck

My daughter did the same type of thing when she was four. We were getting pictures of her and her little sister and the photographer gave her a silk rose to hold. When we were done, the lady asked her to give it back and my daughter told her "I put it away already." Later, we were walking through the store and I noticed she kept scratching her butt. When I asked her why, she gave me a strange look. I put my hand down the back of her pants and pulled out the rose!! I was furious! She had lied to me AND the photographer. I dragged her back to the photo shop and made her give it back. I asked her to apologize and she refused to say anything at all!! It was awful. We had a talk about stealing after that -- but she obviously already knew it was wrong too. I think she just wanted to test the waters!

I think that even though she doesn't understand the concept of stealing, she knows what she did was wrong. The cops won't take her away, she only 3, and you need to be able to understand what you are doing to commit a crime (steal), which is why by law you can't be charged with committing a crime until you are 8, or something. Take her back to the store, and apologize for taking it and pay for it, and make her do chores to pay the $8.

She knows you told her she couldn't have it and she took it anyway. That's enough to punish her. I think all kids take things and may not understand having to pay for it, but either way, they have to learn that they can't take what isn't theirs. I would take her back to the store, give it to a clerk and make her say sorry. Having to face a person she took from will help her understand better. Maybe from now on when she asks for something that you do buy her, ask her how much it is, help her find the price tag and read it, let her help you count out the money and walk her through the correct process of purchasing items. She'll probably really enjoy being a big girl and pretending to buy her own things.

Thumbs up to daddy for sticking up for his little princess, but sadly, it's the wrong call. I think shame goes a loooong way in the face of a stranger. I agree that you should call and ask to speak to a manager, and arrange to take her in to explain the situation, and make your daughter return the lipgloss and say she's sorry. I would go so far as to have her do something at home that equals the value of the lipgloss to really drive the point home. (I suggest the phone call first so you don't catch some poor adult off guard!)

Heres the thing, your daughter is 3 years old. She is too young to know any better. As far as you worrying where she picked up the concept of theft, its just instinct. youre not doing anything wrong as a parent, so dont worry too much.

Just have a family dinner, and sit down with your daughter and have a real conversation about what property is, and why stealing is wrong. Dont condescend to her too much, because then her brain will shut down, and she wont listen.

Just a phase of childhood. almost every kid steals something small at some point. as long as you explain WHY its wrong, it wont happen again.

making her go back to the store, and apologizing for what she did is a wonderful idea, btw

If you haven't confiscated the lip gloss, that's the first thing I'd do. She should not profit from bad behavior. I'd tell her I was disappointed that she took the lip gloss from the store, and that it is wrong to take things that aren't yours. You are right that on some level she knew she was wrong but she's too young to fully understand the idea of shoplifting/stealing/police.

If it were my child I would make her go back to the store and tell them sorry. She knows she did something wrong because like you said, she hid it. So I dont think you need to have her under lockdown, but maybe just explain to her that its wrong to take whats not yours. And I think having to go back to the store to return it and admit what she did would make her realize that youre not kidding about not stealing... oh yes, and I forgot to mention paying for it too, but im assuming thats obivious.

I would make her take it back to the store and return it, and apologize for taking it.

You will still have to pay for it, but the $8 lip gloss is worth the lesson.