Understanding Lying and Stealing in Foster Children

**When foster children lie and steal, they’re not being defiant-they’re trying to survive.**If you’re a foster parent dealing with lying and stealing behaviors, you’re not alone, and you’re not failing. These challenging behaviors are actually survival strategies that helped children navigate impossible situations before they came to your home.Drawing from more than a decade of fostering over 100 children, Juan Rodriguez Aceves offers a compassionate, trauma-informed approach that transforms how you understand and respond to these behaviors. Instead of seeing lying and stealing as problems topunish, you’ll learn to recognize them as communication about what children need to feel safe and secure.This practical guide provides:Clear explanations of how trauma affects children’s brains and behaviorsSpecific strategies for responding with understanding rather than punishmentStep-by-step approaches to building trust and encouraging honestyReal stories of children who moved from survival behaviors to secure attachmentTools for creating safety that make lying and stealing unnecessaryWritten in an accessible, conversational style, this book speaks directly to foster parents who want to see past behaviors to the hurtunderneath. You’ll discover that with patience, consistency, and the right understanding, children can learn that survival mode is nolonger necessary.**Healing is possible. Hope is real. And you are exactly the right person to help make it happen.**