My six-year-old daughter keeps stealing her classmates' lunches

CHILDREN are often cheeky rascals, but sometimes things can get out of hand.

That’s what an Australian mother discovered when she found out her six-year-old was stealing a classmate’s food.

Mother Discovers Daughter Stealing Classmates’ FoodCredits: Getty

She said her daughter was not satisfied with the “healthy” choices and wanted more foodCredits: Getty

She asked a Facebook group for adviceCredits: Getty

Speaking to Facebook group Lunch box Ideas Australia, she explained that her daughter felt “left out” because she saw what other children were eating during their lunch break.

She explained that her daughter was telling her she didn’t get enough to eat in her lunches.

The concerned mother wrote: “My six-year-old steals other children’s lunch at school, mostly packet snacks or treats.

“She said I wasn’t packing enough food, so I’m going to increase the amount, but I think it’s more a matter of what we’re packing…we usually make most of the kids’ snacks.”

She continued: “We will have a ham salad roll or wrap, a appleother fruits like orange or watermelon, canned tuna, crackers, and a homemade treat like a muffin, cookie, or cake.

The mother then explained that her daughter revealed that some of her classmates were receiving sugary treats such as lollipops, Oreos and fruit roll-ups in their lunch boxes.

The message ended: “For me, it’s sometimes food, but obviously she feels left out. Any advice?”

Parents were quick to respond to the comments, with mixed opinions on what the woman should do.

One mother said she saw similar events with her child: “I was really surprised by the amount of junk food in my daughter’s classmates’ lunches.

“We also try not to bring in too many processed foods, but she started to wonder why xyz is getting xyz food and not her.”

Another commented: “I would stick to my guns and talk about food and nutrition.

“My kids are the same: apparently, “everyone” gets the crap you’re talking about on a daily basis.

I took my daughter out of school for a historical event the teacher called ‘incredible’ – but now we’ve been hit with a £60 fine

“We compromised by occasionally putting in small packets of Oreos/cake bars etc. mixed in with homemade treats. Never rolls.

“We make the last week of each term a ‘treat week’ where they choose chips/cookies etc and can have them daily.

“They are looking forward to it because it is something new.”

A third agreed: “I’m like you and I won’t buy processed products.

“I found some muffin recipes on Pinterest which are very low/sugar free and bake them in the small muffin pan.

“Every now and then I let them have something packaged, usually a packet of yogurt, which I don’t find too bad.

“Lollipops or chocolate, rarely, just as a special surprise, maybe once a quarter or for a birthday or something. For me, sometimes food is not an everyday thing.”

A fourth added: “Don’t feel like you have to give in to her stealing.

You must stop him from stealing other children.

“You absolutely have the right to have different rules than other parents. No means no.”

” (Or compromise, it’s up to you). But it’s not because you did anything wrong. She just wanted a lollipop, so she stole it.

“Try to take more stuff. But if she goes through a stealing phase, it might not help. And giving in won’t help.”

“Maybe it’s just a (bad) phase you have to go through and teach him through.”

On the other hand, other mothers pointed out that the restrictive way the mother fed her daughter may have unwittingly pushed her to steal.

One of them said: “You send her the same food every day? Maybe she’s bored and wants what everyone else is eating.

How can I help my picky eater?

Whether your child is going through the “no” phase or is determined to eat only beige fruit, one mom has shared her tips for helping picky eaters.

Sarah Bull, fabulous senior digital editor and mother of two, reveals her experience with fussy eaters and the tips and tricks she’s tried…

Having a difficult child can be both maddening and worrying. Trust me, I know I have two! But there are some tips the NHS offers that I have found helpful.
The first thing to do is not to worry about what your child eats or does not eat during the day. Instead, think about a week and see if his diet is balanced and healthy.
“If your child is active and gaining weight, and appears healthy, then they are eating enough,” the NHS says on its website.
You should try to include foods from the four main food groups for your child: fruits and vegetables, starchy carbohydrates, dairy products, and protein.
If a food doesn’t seem right to them the first time you offer it, don’t give up. Research shows that it takes eight to fifteen times to offer a food before they truly enjoy it.
Try eating with your child and giving him the same food. If he sees you eating, he will be more likely to do it himself.
Don’t overload their plate – you can always add more if they empty it, but having a plate full of food can often seem overwhelming.
Don’t forget to overload children with snacks either. Two healthy snacks a day are “enough”, according to NHS guidelines.
Another thing I’ve found helpful is to involve your children in the meal preparation process. My daughter is much more willing to try new dishes if she’s prepared them herself.

“Maybe items like yogurt, popcorn or cereal are offered as a little treat.

“I also don’t see any harm in giving him a small treat like a small chocolate bar or a sugary cookie, as long as his lunch box is mostly healthy foods.”

Another said: “I found that when I limited my children’s access to these items, they wanted them even more and were very disruptive about them (it was like flies on a food table at parties if they were served lollipops).

“When I allowed more access to these foods and didn’t label them as treats, my kids would often come home from school and ask for healthy snacks or choose the healthier foods over the unhealthier foods I allowed them to choose as snacks.”

A third agrees: “Yes, if it’s limited, they’ll do anything to get it! If there are multiple options, it teaches them to make their own decisions about what’s healthiest.”

They are children, so they will always want what others have.

As for wanting what others have, people also pointed out the bigger issue, which was that her daughter was stealing things.

“I think you’re worrying about the wrong thing. You shouldn’t be trying to make sure his lunch is the same as the other kids. You should stop him from stealing from other kids,” one observer commented.

“You have to explain what it feels like to be robbed and how the child she steals is now starving because of her choice.

“You need to explain to her that we can’t always have the same thing, she just needs to stop stealing. To be honest, you need to prepare more food and she needs to accept the fact that she can’t have the same thing as everyone else all the time.

“You’re right. Sometimes they are food and the fact that she doesn’t have any doesn’t excuse her from stealing them.”

A second said: “Solve the theft problem, meet her halfway and give her a treat every day.”

A third wrote: “It’s not about food – this behaviour needs to be addressed quickly. Talk to the school and seek help from a counsellor.”