We don’t like to be lied to and we all know we shouldn’t do it. But even if we don’t want to admit it, sometimes we give in to the little devil and say, “It wasn’t me! It wasn’t me!” Honestly.
There are a number of reasons why children lie. But one thing is for sure – it is often not as deliberate as adults think.
Children very often receive vague messages from adults. They have to learn a large number of social norms of behavior that are incredibly complex. And they often require a slight distortion of the truth. In fact, we often say “shhh” to children because they were too outspoken.
One of the important missions of children is to test their parents to the fullest to understand what is allowed and what is not (ie “Why can’t I fly if I jump from a tree?” And “What will happen if blame the cat for my mistake? ”). Although very irritating to parents, it helps children get to know the world and themselves, as well as develop important social skills.
Leading in the child’s mind is often the fear that punishment will follow. Lying is an adequate form through which the child adapts to the world of adults.
According to scientists, children who have strict parents are more likely to lie than those who do not. Very strict parenting has an effect on the way children react and the extent to which they deceive others, especially parents themselves.
But what to do with children who lie?
Help the child learn to distinguish fantasy from reality. This does not mean limiting him to fantasizing. You don’t have to reveal the truth about the tooth fairy or Santa Claus, but when your child spends the afternoon pretending to be an alien or a superhero, you can use the opportunity to talk to him about what’s real, what’s not, and how to find the differences. After all, every little child loves to make up nonsense, right?
It is also good to show understanding and talk more with children to get a better idea of their motives for lying in a situation.
To encourage sincerity, teach your child by personal example – be a good role model and talk about how important honesty is.
And of course, remember that a calm conversation will do a much better job than threatening with punishment to get the truth out.
See how far a seemingly innocent lie can lead in the new book by Panda Publishing House!
“How a lie turned into an elephant” is a cute story about the little boy Luke, who will enchant you with his candid childhood reactions.
