Theft

On Thursday, I found Sam playing on the couch with this.

Me: Where did you get that?
Sam: It's mine.
Me: Where did it come from?
Samm: I found it in my room.
Me: Try again.
Sam: I found it outside.
Me: Where did you get it?
Sam: I found it in my room...no outside...It's mine.
Me: Did you take it from somewhere?
Sam: (shrug)
Me: Where did you take it from?
Sam: I don't know.
Me: Did you take it from playgroup?
Sam: No
Me: Did you take it from school?
Sam: (long pause, then very quietly) yes



So, Sam stole these bits of plastic from school. I've never seen them before and I have no idea what they are. On Friday, we spoke to the director of the pre-school. He would not say that he took them. He told the director that they accidently came home with him. She did prompt him, and he did finally say that he took them. They are bits from a large construction set. After Sam apologized, she and I talked a bit.

This is the first time that he has taken something bigger from somewhere. He has stolen toys, markers, books, etc. from his older brothers and from me. He has stolen hair bands and paper clips from preschool before, but this was the first bigger thing from school. I have a feeling that it is just a start. We talk about how stealing is wrong and taking things is wrong, but he just can't seem to understand that he shouldn't take things that don't belong to him.I am not sure how to get him to stop taking things.  He doesn't seem to feel much remorse about stealing it in the first place though.  Sigh.