| It wasn't me Daddy! You must have heard your | | | | They resort to stretching the truth as one of the ways |
| 5-year old say that you at some point or other, when | | | | to do this. |
| you knew it were in fact he who did it. How do you | | | | How to Treat Lying Behavior in Kids |
| deal with your kid, knowing he is lying to you? When | | | | So, how do you treat a lie your kid just told you? Try |
| your child lies to you, remember he is not doing it on | | | | to understand how serious the offence is, and deal |
| purpose. The reasons why kids lie are: | | | | with it accordingly. |
| Short-Term Memory: Children in the age group of five | | | | Accusations don't help. Mold your comments to elicit |
| have short-term memory. If your kid tells you he didn't | | | | confession. Show sympathy. Assure your kid that you |
| do it, chances are that he does not remember doing | | | | understand his point of view when he lies to you, but |
| any thing wrong. | | | | also clarify the reason to him. Your kid will take a cue |
| Wishing it away: Often, children wish that the wrong | | | | from your comments and will try not to repeat the |
| did not happen, and tend to believe that it actually did | | | | mistake. He will also realize that lying is thankless. On |
| not. So, if your child denies a wrong, he simply might be | | | | the other hand, your anger might aggravate this |
| convinced that he did not do it. | | | | behavior in your kid. Your child will be closed to the |
| Imagination : A five-year-old child has a very fertile | | | | lessons you are trying to teach, and will be more likely |
| imagination, and loves to conjure up fantasy worlds of | | | | to keep on lying. |
| his own. He lives in a fantasy world, and thinks that all | | | | Be fair in your treatment. If your kid is trying to test the |
| of it is actually true. | | | | limits, or what he can get away with, gauge the gravity |
| Fear of disapproval: Your kid does not want to | | | | of the situation and mete out a treatment that the |
| disappoint you. He might fear the fact that a mistake | | | | situation demands. Avoid being too hard on him. He will |
| could upset you, and he does not want to be in that | | | | understand that he cannot really fool you with his |
| situation. He tries to avoid that by lying to you. | | | | behavior. |
| Feel good factor: Your child wants to impress not just | | | | Harsh punishment is no good for minor offenses. Keep |
| you, but also him. He makes up stories to 'enhance' his | | | | a positive attitude, but spare the rod when your kid |
| amazing feats. There is an underlying desire for | | | | confesses to a wrong he committed. Severe |
| approval from parents that leads kids to come up with | | | | punishment for minor offenses leads kids to extremes; |
| such tales. | | | | they either develop an overly strict conscience or |
| Seeking attention: Children often desire attention from | | | | become rebellious. Praise your child when he owns up |
| people around them. Your kid can easily learn that a | | | | to a mistake. It instills a sense of confidence in your |
| tall one definitely will elicit a reaction from you, and | | | | child, and he learns the virtues of being honest. Your |
| decides to play his cards. He does not care if the | | | | child may not completely understand the moral |
| response is not positive, his motive has been met - you | | | | ramifications of lying. You need to explain the |
| reacted to his tale. He is successful in getting the | | | | importance of honesty to your kid. You can tell stories |
| attention he seeks this way. | | | | that bring out the message. Some fairy tales and folk |
| Control : Kids often love to be in control of a situation, | | | | lore are good sources of such lessons. |
| and make believe situations where they are in control. | | | | I'll try in this article to provide Tips for Dad of different |
| Testing parents: It may sound frustrating to you, but | | | | types and styles to relate their challenges and |
| your kid at this age is constantly trying to test the limits | | | | solutions. While having a kid may come naturally, being |
| you will allow him to go. This gives them an | | | | a good dad can be quite a challenge. |
| understanding of their own powers in the household. | | | | |