How to deal with lies!

It comes as no surprise that at some point of your life you have lied to someone. This behavior can be seen more frequently in children, but unfortunately we see it in teenagers and adults. 

To children, lying can be related to desires and fantasy or sometimes used to avoid consequences of any behavior. Young children are used to lie to express desires and what they think, without realizing the bad connotation associated with this act.

Lying is a behavior learned throughout human development in different contexts. The family is the biggest reference to the child, which means grown-ups must be aware of the social lies they are used to tell. As the child develops and acknowledges the relationships around her, she starts to reproduce and repeat certain behaviors. Once the child notices that lying is allowed and told by family members, she also feels entitled and encouraged to repeat it.

When lying becomes frequent, try to understand the child’s motivation and the real reason behind it. Talk with her and pay attention to her behavior. Before punishing her for telling lies, explain the consequences of acting so and the effect it has on others. Punishment without uncovering the motivation for lying will only encourage her to lie more and more for fear of punishment. 

The parents need to make clear that lying isn’t a good option to solve or deal with issues. They should explain that we must not lie and that we must admit our mistakes and have responsibility for its consequences. After some time, the parents can make an agreement with the child about what are the consequences for lying and the rules should apply, of course, to the whole family.

See you next time,
Laura