Do you think I handled this issue with my 6 year old right? (see details)?

My husband and kids were over visiting his mother the other day at her apartment (she's disabled). While there, my 6 year old opened a drawer and saw a $20 bill, and decided that she wanted to put it in her coin purse so she'd have money like Mommy and Daddy have.

She didn't tell anyone, just took it. Later on, I saw this coin purse with the bill in it and asked her where it came from. "Found it on the ground outside Grandma's house" she says. The next day, Grandma calls and is wondering where her $20 is lol. The kid admits to taking it from the drawer.

So my punishment for her was this: she had to immediately go and return the money and write a note (yes, she can write and read very well) to Grandma and say she was sorry. Then, she had to write 20 times "I will not lie to Mommy" to me. I also seriously informed her that the worst thing she did was lie to me, because now I won't be able to believe her for awhile.

What do you think? Did I leave something out?

EDIT: Jeesh, if I could only get grandma to cooperate lol ... she took the money back, along with her note AND 2 pretty pictures and what does grandma say? "Oh honey, it's okay, I love the pretty pictures but I didn't need the money back" Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!

Oh, and the reason I didn't bar her from the computer (our most general "punishment") was because it didn't fit the crime. That, and because although stealing the money was serious, it'd land us in jail time if we did it, she has no concept of the value of money. She would have taken it if it were monopoly money, she just wanted to be a "big girl" and have money in her purse.

LOL, no I think you covered it!!! You punished her, and that's what she needs to learn a lesson! My 6 year old has came home with a few things that didn't belong to her either... She never did this until this year.... :)

It's good that you've let her know that you can't believe her for a while, that's a really important part. But children are quite materialistuic also so take away the tv or her favourite toy for a week too.

I think you did an excellent job handling it. You have made her realize that taking the money without asking was wrong and also by making her write that she will not lie to you, that will also make her not want to lie to you anymore because she will be punished if she does.

I think that you are on the right track. However, the punishment should have been more severe - like no TV or friends for a few days. You are right, you need to teach the kids that they can't lie to you, because if they do then you can't trust them.