Childhood lies - where does it come from and how to fix it

Probably, all parents sooner or later face the fact that their little one begins to fantasize and embellish some stories. But over time, some children are not limited to fantasy, they develop their ability to lie. When parents understand this, they try in every possible way to wean the baby from this habit. But, first, you should find the reason for this behavior of the child.

Why is the child lying

There can be many reasons for this behavior of a child. They can manifest themselves not only separately from each other, but also in aggregate. But it is more expedient to consider each reason separately.

1. Lie is a game. This type of lie is harmless, since psychologists argue that this behavior is a feature of the psyche of children in a specific age range. That is, kids simply give free rein to their imagination and imagination. At the same time, the child can sincerely believe in what he says.
2. Lying out of fear. This type of lie is the most common. Children, when they are afraid that they will be punished, begin to invent something in order to avoid it. The reason for this behavior may be a lack of understanding with family members.
3. Imitation of adults. Children, more often than not, copy the behavior of adults and act the same way as they do. Over time, toddlers find lying when communicating with other people is a habit.
4. Lies while maneuvering between relatives. This type of lie is observed in those families in which there are serious conflicts. In this case, the child has to communicate with all relatives, regardless of their relationship with each other. Accordingly, he indulges every member of the family in the absence of others.
5. Lies for attention. If the child lacks attention, he begins to look for ways to get it, for example, using lies. When a child is punished, he gets what he wanted and, accordingly, his goal is achieved.
6. Lies for manipulation. This type of lying is used by a child in order to attract the attention of others. When a toddler wants to be the center of attention and sees no way to achieve that goal, he starts showing off and making impressions using lies.
7. Lies-revenge. In families where parents do not pay attention to their child, the latter tries to compensate for this lack of constant lies.
8. Unmotivated lie. This type of lie is the most hopeless. Only an experienced specialist will help to cope with this problem, since the child lies constantly and for no reason.

What to do if the child is lying

When parents notice that their child is often lying, of course, they try to solve the problem. But what should be done to eradicate it?

1. Positive thinking. Parents should show their child by example that cheating is not worth it. For example, that there is no reason to worry about punishment since everyone makes mistakes sometimes.
2. Honesty should be encouraged, but cheating should not be punished. The kid needs to be explained that people value honesty, but lying can upset them.
3. Parents should help their child avoid situations that cause him to lie. For example, when a baby spills something, do not scold. It is better to offer to wipe everything together and agree that in the future it will be more accurate. If the parents start scolding the child, the next time he will lie.
4. Given that children often lie when they come up with stories to brag about, parents can offer their child an entertaining hobby that they can share with their friends. For example, it could be karate, jogging, or some other sport. That is, it is necessary to make sure that the child really has something to brag about. Thus, it will rise self-esteem.

Psychological advice

To find the reason for children's lies, it is recommended to consult a psychologist. An experienced professional will help you find the cause of this behavior and eliminate it. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with a few tips from psychologists that will help wean your child from lying.

1. From a young age, the child needs to read stories in which the main emphasis is on the importance of honesty in a person's life.
2. An analysis of the child's behavior and the consequences of his lies also allows us to show the negative aspects of the current situation.
3. Parental support is the main weapon against childish lies. You cannot call the baby a "liar" and so on. This will only make the situation worse. You can only discuss specific situations, but not his personality.

If parents notice that their child is lying, you need to solve this problem immediately, and not wait until he outgrows, etc. Only a loving and responsible attitude towards your child will allow him to grow up responsible and honest.