What To Do When Your Kids Lie?

posted on Dec 23, 2022

Although every kid does it, lying is an unhealthy habit. It may seem harmless at first, and you may overlook it, thinking that your child is being mischievous, but in reality, the situation may be graver than you thought. It’s an early sign that your child does not trust you. Now, does that sound healthy? As a parent, you want your kids to trust and feel safe around you. Thus, if you don’t root out the problem in its infancy, your relationship will turn sour as they mature.

However, there may be other reasons they lie. Some lies can be genuinely harmless, so you must be able to decipher which one it is. So today, in this article below, we at Gurukul The School, one of the top CBSE schools in Ghaziabad, will share with you a few tips on how to spot a lie and also the right way to react to it. Let’s read on.

Identify The Problem Before Treating It
You must identify why they’re lying before taking the necessary actions. Are they lying to hide something they’ve done? Or are they making up stories to amuse themselves while playing? If they lie because they are trying to hide something, for example, breaking a vase, don’t let them get away with it. Tell them it’s alright to break something as long as they admit it. Tell them politely, “I already know what’s happened, so I want you to admit to it. After all, you didn’t do it on purpose, and it’s just a vase.” They must understand that they are safe around as long as they admit to it, and it’s always better to get things off their chest.

However, if they lie while playing, then play along with them. For example, if they say they have a friend who lives on the Moon, then ask, “Really? What’s his name? What do you play? Whom does he live with?” This habit will promote your child’s imagination which is essential when they grow up.

Using the Word “Liar” For Your Child is the Worst Thing to Do
Being parents, you must realize that if you call your child a liar, they’ll treat it as a “dirty” word. It will demean your child, and they’ll believe you don’t treasure them as much. Children who grow up feeling unloved develop no self-confidence and thus underachieve in life. We know losing your temper sometimes is easy, but you must resist this urge for the greater good of your child.

Have Clarity About Expectations
Children often lie when they haven’t done well in something you’ve high expectations of them, such as their exams. This is because they don’t want to disappoint you. Please do not get angry at them when this happens, as it shows how much you mean to them. Thus, don’t counter it by yelling. We understand that every parent wants to see their kids succeed and have thriving careers. But you mustn’t push them beyond their capabilities. You must identify their limits and manage expectations. We suggest you tell them it’s okay to fail sometimes, but they shouldn’t hide it by lying. It’s reasonable for you to think that they must do well in their studies, but not at the cost of their mental health.

You Are Your Child’s Role Model!
You are your child’s prized possession. They cherish you, and to them, you’re the shining example of what a person should be like. Hence, you must project a positive image of yourself in front of them. If you have the habit of fibbing (even minutely) at times, try and rectify it immediately. Or else they’ll think it’s okay to do the same. They’ll believe that there won’t be any consequences when, in reality, that’s not the case. We at Gurukul The School, ranked among the top CBSE schools in Ghaziabad, suggest that you teach them the message, “Lying gets you nowhere!”

Conclusion
Raising children to be upstanding citizens is not an easy task, however doable. It’s a journey where you’ll fumble and be tested, but therein lies the beauty because once you achieve it, you’ll see your child prosper and have a fulfilling life.