Kids go through stages. Sometimes, during development, they may take things that don’t belong to them; this behavior can easily be corrected with guidance. However, Kleptomania is not a normal part of development. Kleptomania is a mental health disorder characterized by the inability to resist the urge to steal items. Here is how you can help kids who are struggling with this disorder.

Get Professional Help

Kids who struggle with kleptomania need professional help. Many repercussions accompany this disorder that kids should not have to deal with. For example, according to the Attorney General in Colorado, if a stolen item is valued below $2,000, it is considered a misdemeanor; however, stolen goods valued at over $,2000 are considered a felony.

Not only are kids dealing with kleptomania at risk of serious criminal repercussions they may also have a hard time making and keeping friends. This mental health problem will affect every area of their life. Professional help can improve and help to get the problem under control.

Address Underlying Issues

Kleptomania can be a symptom of other underlying mental health issues. Sometimes, the disease itself is triggered by something else. Sometimes, co-morbid problems don’t seem related. For example, according to the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, a cluttered home or dirty living space can increase depressive feelings in women.

It’s important that kids who have kleptomania are thoroughly evaluated for underlying disorders. If the underlying disorder is addressed, the kleptomaniac behaviors may disappear. A whole-person approach must be taken when treating this disorder. Advocate for full testing and exams if you suspect a child is dealing with this disorder.

Educate Them

If you work with kids or have kids of your own that you believe have kleptomania, the best way you can help them is by educating yourself about this disorder. There are a lot of myths about kleptomania that can cloud what you believe about kleptomania. For example, kleptomaniacs are relative to socioeconomic standing.

The fact is that many children who live in single-family suburban homes with two parents with median income suffer from this disorder. According to This Old House, about 73.5% of new homes in 2022 were single families. There is an excellent chance that kids with kleptomania have no reason to steal, yet they can’t control the impulse. Learning more about the disorder can help you find a clear path to helping a child with kleptomania.

Find Healthy Outlets

One of the ways you can help a child with kleptomania is to encourage positive activities that they enjoy, helping distract them from the urge to steal. Sports, crafting, music lessons, and other positive activities can help promote wellness. Positive activities that the child finds fulfilling can help to reduce stress and anxiety for the child.

Monitoring is essential to ensure that the child is enjoying the activity and not showing signs of stress or anxiety, which can trigger kleptomania. Remember, overcoming kleptomania is a gradual process, which means you may not see immediate results by encouraging positive activities, but you must stay the course.

Kids who struggle with kleptomania need the support of mental health professionals, their families, and school personnel to overcome this disorder. It’s essential that every adult who works with the child is cued into the disorder and understands that the behavior is a compulsion and not a choice. Kleptomania should be treated like any other mental health disorder.

This disorder can be overcome With the right interventions and professional help. It takes patience and understanding. Learn more ways that you can help by doing further research. Always do your best to talk to your child directly about these issues.

The post How to Help a Child Who is Struggling With Kleptomania appeared first on Kids Ain't Cheap.