Does your child know that the reason he doesn’t have the things he wants is because you cannot afford it at the time? Has he/she learned open and honest conversation from you? Or is it ‘get out of my sight and go and read olodo’ every time?

He has stolen now, are there ways to make him take responsibility for his actions? Like volunteering him to work while his mates play until he’s paid his debt off? Are there privileges he enjoys that can be taken a way for a while? Or is food and shelter what counts as privilege?

The store in front of the house, couldn’t they use a few hours of free labour after school while your child learns responsibility? Or is it too much work for you to punish them and still make sure they’re safe when you can just spend 15 minutes swinging a belt?