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  Case: Caught Red Handed
In my Kindergarten class I have an area with various toys for students to play with during their free time. I noticed that one little boy, we will call him Drew enjoyed playing with the match box cars. I only had a few and noticed that they kept going missing. Now, I thought they were somewhere in the classroom and they would turn up but in the mean time, I went out and purchased a few more boxes of cars. Now, when Drew was leaving I went to give him a hug goodbye and noticed his pockets were full. I asked what he had. He refused to answer. His mom took the match box cars out of his pocket. I spoke to Drew and said that I just bought those cars for the classroom and they had to stay in the class. The parent said jumped in and said I was mistaken and they are his cars.. ( they are not) ..and became angry at me. Fast forward, now I have no cars in the classroom because they all "disappeared"... Help?
Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!)
I've seen this happen quite a few times, both when I was in school and when I'm working with children. Parents know they aren't their child's toys, but are too embarrassed to admit that their child has been stealing. I would show your receipt for the toys to prove they really are yours and that it's okay if he would like to play with them, but only within the classroom. You don't want the parent to feel attacked, they know they're in the wrong but just don't want to admit it. Give them a chance to escape their lie with a "Oh, I had no idea!". Then, I would always recommend writing your name on all of the toys and other items within you classroom to prevent a future mishap. If you also would like the previous toy cars returned, I would ask the parent or send a letter home asking to speak with them. That way you can explain the situation, that you are not angry, but simply would like the toys you paid for out of pocket returned to you. They are meant for all the students to play with.
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: This is an excellent solution to the issue. I would do exactly as you mentioned. I really like the idea of writing the teacher's name on the bottom of the toys, or even making a list for students to "check out" the toy that they are playing with.
Rated On: July 9, 2017 12:44 am
Rated By: aByveM
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: I like this solution because it tries to reach out to the parent. It also gives advice for the future in making sure there won't be any "confusion" on ownership.
Rated On: October 15, 2017 4:48 am
Rated By: qedeDe
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: This solution is well thought out and helpful. It also seems to address the issue. I like this solution!
Rated On: February 25, 2018 3:18 am
Rated By: Samantha Rey
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: Couldn't have said it better myself!
Rated On: February 25, 2018 7:52 am
Rated By: epuMat
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: I agree with this solution
Rated On: February 25, 2018 11:21 pm
Rated By: DuTepy
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: NA
Rated On: October 10, 2018 7:06 pm
Rated By: heJaQy
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: I agree with your approach to the parent, just nicely show the receive and give him/her a chance to fix the situation.
Rated On: October 14, 2018 4:00 am
Rated By: tabape
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments:
Rated On: February 19, 2019 11:50 pm
Rated By: baJeTe
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: This is exactly what I would do because stealing isn't a beat around the bush type of thing but you want to be respectful of the family by being aloof that you didn't know the student was stealing.
Rated On: February 23, 2019 2:09 am
Rated By: Meghan Fletcher
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: If I were in this situation I would do this. You are actually addressing the child's behavior as well as communicating with the parent with the hope of keeping the toys in the classroom for all the children.
Rated On: February 24, 2019 12:53 pm
Rated By: Nicole Morris
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: great
Rated On: February 25, 2019 1:22 am
Rated By: yZedyR
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: Yes great idea sometimes emotions run high and parents get defensive but but the time they are getting worked up they realize there is no way out but commit to lying themself which teaches the child nothing in that situation.
Rated On: July 7, 2019 1:17 am
Rated By: yHumuG
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: Good solution.
Rated On: October 14, 2019 12:08 am
Rated By: GeQapy
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: I would do exactly this. As there is an option to talk to the parent right then and there, and to talk to the parent at a later time.
Rated On: October 18, 2019 10:35 pm
Rated By: Amber Hyatt
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: I think this is a great idea to confront the problem without making the parents feel attacked.
Rated On: February 19, 2020 8:41 pm
Rated By: Torii Podmokly
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: This provides many useful solutions to the dilemma
Rated On: February 23, 2020 8:20 pm
Rated By: Taylor G.
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: This is a good solution to help ease the parents and hold the student accountable.
Rated On: October 9, 2020 5:15 pm
Rated By: medega
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: good idea
Rated On: October 18, 2020 2:26 am
Rated By: VePuWu
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: I agree with this solution and how the idea is to not let the parent or child feel attacked but to let all of the students play with these toys.
Rated On: March 7, 2021 6:29 pm
Rated By: dazugu
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: I agree with this solution, writing your name on your stuff will help with this issue.
Rated On: April 3, 2022 2:06 pm
Rated By: gupeVy
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: I like your solution!
Rated On: October 12, 2022 11:32 pm
Rated By: VuBytu