Little Liars

What do we do about lying?

Here are 4 Mom Tips to help when your child is lying.

Tip #1 - ALL KIDS LIE

All kids at some point think they are smarter than you. Lying is a normal behavior of childhood because children are fanciful and creative by design. Lying does not make your child a “bad kid.”

Tip #2 - NEVER TRAP YOUR CHILD

Do not ask your child a question that will lead them to a lie. If your child snuck a cookie before dinner, don’t say “did you take a cookie?” that is a trap! You know they took the cookie. Instead say “I know you took a cookie, and we do not eat sweets before dinner. Why did you do that?”

Tip #3 - BE TRUSTWORTHY

Do not lie to your child. Be trustworthy. You may not realize it, but you may be viewed as a liar by your child. Have you ever said, “do that again and I will take your iPad?” If you did not take the iPad after the repeated behavior than you lied. Have you ever promised to play a game or make a certain food, and then you did not do it? You lied. Speak Honestly. Say it and follow through in truth!

Tip #4 - RELATIONSHIP MATTERS

Lying is a problem but knowing why your child is lying is the most important. Explaining to your child that trust is earned is a lifelong lesson. Being a safe place for your child to tell you ANYTHING is so important. Listening to all the small things will mean they will tell you about the big things later. Never let anything, not even a lie, come between you and your child.

REMEMBER….

If anyone tells you that being a mom is easy, they are lying!