Translated from The Yomiuri Shimbun:

Dear Troubleshooter:

I'm a housewife in my 40s. I'm having a problem with my son, a second-year middle school student. He began making off with some coins from my wallet around when he was a fourth-year primary school student.

Nowadays, he takes more than just coins. He has even pilfered a 10,000 yen (S$135) note. He denies what he does with a straight face whenever I question him. He apologizes for what he did when he cannot avoid admitting his conduct and swears he will never do it again. He seems to use such money to buy snacks or comics. My husband has told me to keep money out of his reach, but it doesn't work.

I have kept on telling him not to do that, believing he will listen to me for the sake of his conscience, but he seems to have no sense that he is doing something wrong. He always says he is fine with his monthly allowance of 3,000 (S$40) yen. No wonder. He makes off with money from my wallet whenever that is not enough. He obviously thinks it is easier to steal money than asking for it or doing something to earn it. What can I do?

J, Osaka Prefecture

Dear Ms. J:

Children begin to learn to use money and develop an interest in the power of money around the time they become old enough to go to primary school. Spending hours a day away from their families marks quite departure for them, compared to being given whatever they want or need by their parents and other people around them at home. But they tend to spend money recklessly at first, as they do not have enough knowledge about how to earn or manage it.

When your son started to make off with money when he was at the fourth-grade level, he must have done so without any particular motive. But as he has repeated the act and the amount of money stolen has increased, you need to take action now.

First, you have to improve the way you take care of your money to make it impossible for him to reach it without your permission. You seem to have already tried this, but it clearly didn't work. Discuss the matter with your husband.

Then, make him keep a record of his allowance and expenses, and have him confirm the balance together with you. It also is important to well understand what he is interested in and what he wants to buy by getting in the habit of having a lot of conversations with him. Explain to him over and over how difficult and important it is to earn money to show him that his parents always take a serious attitude toward money.

Masami Ohinata, professor