At 11, I'd give him more than a talk. He'd have to return anything bought with the stolen money (if possible). He'd have to give an apology to those he stole from. He'd have to return the stolen money--working to earn it if needed. He'd also have less freedom for a while (including no online access), until he had proven that he could be trusted again.

Kids this age, especially boys, who just get talked to are more likely to keep doing such things--after all, it is easy to tune out being talked to and if he gets to keep the stuff he bought, then he likely sees it as having worked out all right. More likely to continue until the police get involved if that's all the punishment the parents are doling out.

i would want to know what he needed the money for, then made him work it off. there is usually a reason people need that sort of cash. a kid stealing a dollar for a candy bar is one thing, but that amount is a serious thing. probably would have made him return or sell everything. had i tried something like that as a kid i would have been in big trouble since the only time we had that sort of money it was to pay the bills, to take that money would have been stupid. i liked to have dinner, electricity, and a roof over my head. if i wanted something i asked, if that didn't work i made my own money. i knew my parents weren't a bank, the realities of life were made clear at a young age. there is a good chance had i dared to steal a lot of money from them, they would have called the police. you steal or otherwise break the law, you do the time, no one is coming to bail you out. life has consequences, harsh, but us kids knew what we risked when we ran that line. that if we were caught, we'd face it on our own. money wasn't worth it.

Our "talk" would be: You have lost my trust. How are you going to earn it back?

My suggestions? A good start would be paying me back, in full. This will likely entail getting a job of some sort -- at 11yo, that'll amount to odd jobs around the neighborhood, shoveling snow for friends, etc. The sad part is that I'll be unable to trust him around my purse, his fathers' wallet, any valuables, with any amount of money, etc. How do we ensure that (1) The relationship between he and I is repaired? and (2) He discovers a newfound respect for money?

There're no clear-cut answers here, but those would be the questions. Bottom-line, he and I would be spending a lot of time together. Just loads. Anywhere he went, I'd have to go. Anywhere I went, he'd have to come, until that trust is built back up again. Some might call it: GROUNDED.

There is a certain age when a child will realize the power of money and some children will steal money from their parents or friends at this age. It's normal

A talk is very good if it's informative. What he did is wrong. But not unusual for a kid.

Giving him an allowance is a good idea too because he obviously needs money, and he can not work ..

Well first i would be returing everything that was bought with my money. Talk to him. Then ground him for as many days, per dollar, that he stole. So 60 dollars=60 days. 185 dollars=185 days.

I would give him a talk, take away all privileges (TV, video games, ipod, cellphone if he has one, etc.) and give him an earlier bed time along with grounding him for 2 weeks. Stealing is a BIG deal, and he needs to realize that. At 11, he should know better.

Also, I'd give the things he bought to a charity.

Wow i can see why kids are lazy and think they can do what ever they want from these comments.

Make him work out in the yard for 8 bucks an hour give him the money he earned then take it back and say you see how much work goes into that 120 bucks? just to give him a sense of how much its worth. Then idk if id go soft and give it back or just keep it. but def show him how much just 120 is worth

that i8s disgusting, what sort of lesson are your parents teaching him? if the is no consequences then they will do it again, he should not get pocket money until the £120 is paid back in full

He would lose his ill-gotten gains, and he would work to replace the money he stole.

it's not my child and i really don't care what you or anybody else does with their child. i would have to believe they know him more then i do and i think this is what they feel should do the trick. one size does not fit all when it comes to children...