While lying among children is common, it is still bad behavior and should not be condoned. As parents, we must make it a point of duty to teach our children to tell the truth at all times. This should form part of our daily moral instruction to our children. This also means that we as parents must practice what we preach, for this lesson to stick. We cannot lie repeatedly and to the hearing of our kids and expect them not to notice. Here are some common reasons why children lie.

1.If they think they can get away with it: Sometimes because of the way we either give deaf ear to events at home, or not address it with the seriousness it deserves, we pass the wrong messages to our kids. They feel we are not observant and so they can getaway with anything. This is unfortunately true. Most parents do not know half of what their kids are up to most of the time. A child who is convinced he can lie and get away with it may have started the process in gradual but careful steps long before now. With each success he has lying to you, he tries other ways and before you know it, he’s addicted to lying.

What to do: Pay closer attention to your kids. If you feel he or she is overly defensive over an issue or an innocent question, don’t ignore it, prod further and see where that leads.

2.They lie because they are afraid of the consequence of telling the truth: Again children lie sometimes because they are afraid of what you’d likely do to them should they tell the truth.

What to do: while you would not be doing your child any favors by condoning his bad behavior, it helps if you acknowledge when he tells you the truth and be a bit linnet in his punishment. Most importantly, let him or her know why they are being punished or reprimanded.

3.They do not consider lying a serious offense: Funny as this sounds, your kids may lie to you simply to outsmart you. They don’t really consider lying a serious offense or a big deal, after all what mummy does not know, would not hurt her.

What to do: It is your duty to help your child understand that little behaviors like lying can very well become a full blown addiction.