Model how you would have liked your child to respond.

If your little one sneaks a candy bar and then denies eating it (with chocolate smeared on their mouth), they're not a bad person they're simply trying to get around the fact that they can't have everything they want. Try to understand your child's point of view.Here are some strategies to try when you catch your child lying: Your goal is to set boundaries, encourage open communication, and provide a safe and supportive environment for your child to express feelings and needs. Instead, use your words to help your child understand the difference between right and wrong and develop problem-solving and communication skills. Punishments for lying at this age aren't useful. For example, saying they swam all the way across an Olympic-sized pool alone is a way of seeking approval for an impressive (though unlikely) accomplishment, rather than an act of conscious lying.Īge-appropriate consequences for lying: Ages 3 to 4 Your child has figured out that telling a tall tale is a surefire way to get a response out of you – even if it's a negative one. Similarly, if you saw your child spill their juice, but they deny it, your little one naturally wishes they hadn't made a mess and doesn't want to face consequences for the slip-up. Rather than face your displeasure, they may choose to lie about it. Your youngster knows that a misdeed will disappoint you. As frustrating as it is, this kind of truth-stretching is normal. Your child might come to you and, without batting an eye, ask to watch TV, claiming they haven't watched anything today – meanwhile, you already know they used up their daily screen time hours ago. Kids are knee-deep in testing parental boundaries and their own power at this age. In that situation, fibs are part of an exploration of ideas. Your child might hide their scarf and tell you they have no idea where it is just as you're heading out the door, just to see how you react. When kids discover that they can lie, they might simply be curious to find out what happens when they do. They're just wishing it didn't happen – so much so that they're convinced they had nothing to do with it. For example, when your child firmly declares that they didn't break your vase, they're not really trying to get away with something. In other words, your child may not understand the moral concept of lying, or the difference between truth and falsehood. Children have a rich fantasy life, and they may think that what they conjure up in their heads is actually true. Wishful thinking – or an active imagination.At 3 and 4 years old, lies may stem from:

Seven ways to lie