Parents may not like to hear this, but almost all kids lie at some point in time. Whether it is a harmless lie that presents them as heroes or a lie intended to save them from the consequences of their wrongful actions, there will be some type of lie. We at Delhi Public School Kota, ranked among the top schools of Kota, have talked with numerous kids on this topic and came to the conclusion that many kids lie for unusual reasons.
Young kids may lie to their parents to simply test what will happen if they lie about a particular situation. Slightly older kids may lie to enhance their self-esteem or gain peer approval. The reasons behind telling lies can be endless, but their intention matters the most. While no kid should be encouraged to lie, parents must take corrective measures based on the intention behind their child’s lying habit.
We believe simple methods are enough to prevent kids from telling lies that don’t jeopardize others. However, parents must embrace a more tactful approach if their kids have started telling lies that put others in trouble. So, if you have noticed your children lying to you frequently, implement the following tips to prevent it in the future.
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Make them feel safe and heard
When parents find out their kids are lying, their knee-jerk reaction is often anger. If your kids notice a pattern of always getting scolded or punished after sharing what really happened with them, they may resort to lying more frequently. Hence, parents must make their kids feel safe so they can share the truth, no matter how uncomfortable or concerning.
In this regard, we at Delhi Public School Kota would also like to advise parents to make sure that you do talk to your kids regularly and make them feel comfortable sharing anything they encounter without distortions. Kids may take their time to trust their parents fully with this, but you can expect to see significant positive changes over time.
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Become their emotional coach
We have seen that kids often lie more when they’re feeling upset. Since emotions run high during such times, kids can struggle to think clearly and express themselves. As such, saying whatever comes to their mind to avoid interactions may seem like the best option, making many kids lie during upsetting scenarios. The best way to prevent kids from lying during such situations is to make them emotionally strong.
Since parents know their kids better, they can design personalized methods to hone their emotional maturity. We recommend teaching kids how to identify emotions and manage them in a healthy way so they don’t get carried away by intense emotions during stressful situations and resort to lying as an escapism mechanism.
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Ditch the ‘Investigator’ role
Have you ever fired a series of interrogative questions at your kids because they were slightly late in returning home? While it is normal for parents to indulge in such behaviors because they care for their kids, it may not always be perceived in a good way. Kids may get overwhelmed if you ask them where they were, why they were late, whom they were with, etc. It may often compel them to become defensive to avoid answering so many questions unexpectedly.
But when you replace these questions with statements that show your concern, like ‘I was worried when you didn’t reach home in time,’ your kids may acknowledge your care and love for them and answer your questions truthfully. This approach will create a positive ripple effect in your child’s behavior, gradually reducing their tendency to lie.
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Implement the ‘Two-Minute’ rule
Sometimes, children lie as an impulse reaction to unexpected questions. We at Delhi Public School Kota, positioned among the top schools of Kota, believe the best way to help kids prevent lying in such situations is by giving them time to rethink their responses and share truthful answers to the questions. For example, if your kids haven’t done their homework and you ask them out of the blue about the homework status, they may lie and say the homework is done as a fearful response.
You can instead follow the ‘two-minute’ rule. After asking any question, you must tell your kids that for the next two minutes, you will be listening to their response without any judgment, anger, or scolding. It will help your kids to share truthful responses without any worry. Make it a daily ritual, and notice how your child stops lying to you.
Conclusion
Parents always try their best to inculcate the best qualities in their children and make them the best versions of themselves. Seeing their kids lying to them frequently and hiding things about their life can make even the strongest-hearted parent feel sad and defeated. If you have recently started noticing your kids lying to you about their studies, time spent outside, etc., we recommend implementing the tips discussed in this article. Trust us; while you might not see overnight results, there will be sure-shot visible improvements over time.