A family has adopted a seven-year-old boy who had previously experienced severe neglect. The adoptive parents are meeting with a social worker because they are frustrated that he continues to hoard food. They report that they often find food under his bed and he "steals" extra food to put in his backpack for school. What recommendations should the social worker make?
Children who have experienced neglect sometimes hoard food, even when they are placed in foster or adoptive homes. They have learned this as a survival skill and should not be punished. Instead, they should be given support. Caregivers can help them learn to recognize that their needs will be taken care of. Over time, with helpful reinforcement, these behaviors are likely to diminish.