Articles

Liar! Liar! - Preschooler and Lying

“Mama… I didn’t throw the cushions on the floor,” and your four year old is standing amidst the cushions.

If you are living with a preschooler then this must be a regular sight. It must be quite difficult for you to decide whether your little angel is speaking truth or he is lying. Interestingly, these cute little kids lie quite often.

During the developing years of your kid, lying is quite normal. On the other hand, it is the responsibility of parents to have a complete check on their lying habits and don’t ignore it.

Why do Kids Lie?

As parents are the very first institution of kids, it is their duty to imbibe morals and values into their kids. Make your little preschooler understand the worth of truth and honesty.

One of the major reasons for the lying tendency of kids is that they are new to their surroundings and trying to understand them. They don’t know how to differentiate between reality and imagination.

For instance, if your little son has spilled all the cookies from the box then do not ask him angrily. You must try to understand his situation. He might be trying to get the cookie box down and wanted to eat them. But, the box was too far from his reach.

How to Act

Now, you must avoid putting your kid in such a scary situation. He must be expecting that mom will come and scold me. This prompts him to tell lie. On the contrary, calm him down and ask him to clean the floor with him. Now, make him understand that it would be much better if he has asked for cookies from you.

When you know that your child is telling lie, do not shout or scream at him. You must use this opportunity in making your child understand the significance of truth and honesty.

If you shout at him then from next time onwards he would lie to avoid any kind of blame. On the contrary, you must encourage your child to speak truth and assure him that you will not get angry.

Praise Your Kid

Another major reason for the lying habit of kids is that they do not want to disappoint their parents. Instead of yelling and getting angry with your kid, you must focus what you actually want your child to be. If you really want your child to be honest then you must praise when he/she accepts his/her mistake. If your child is admitting his/her mistake then he/she needs to be appreciated for this act.

Be The Role Models

Parents are always the role models for their kids. Thus, it is your duty to practice what you are teaching your kids. Do not confuse your kid by speaking lies over trivial issues.

Try to make your little preschooler understand that it hurts when he/she lies. When he/she understands that you value honesty, then he/she will do their best to be honest!