Why Is Your Child Caught Lying?
Before you decide what to do when your child is caught lying, it’s very important to understand why kids lie. The simplest explanation is that kids just don’t understand that lying is hurtful to others. They may understand that something is strictly forbidden, but they don’t have the ability to really comprehend that doing it hurts others’ feelings. If you ground your child from video games for a day but he decides to go behind your back and play them anyway, it’s because he doesn’t appreciate that the sneaky behavior hurts you and harms your trust level in him. Kids are great at thinking, “It’s not gonna hurt anybody if I…”
Above all, talk to your child about the lie. Find out the story behind it. Is she protecting herself or someone else? Or just trying to get some attention? When you know the story, the appropriate reaction is easier to figure out.
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