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What to do if you caught your child lying: don't punish
29.10.2024 10:47
Many parents have to look for an answer to the question: “What to do if a child lies?”
You, of course, can react in completely different ways, but the main thing is, do not punish your child.
It was found that children who were subjected to physical punishment for lying began to lie even more. More active in lying, so to speak, are children from families with strict rules of conduct, in which lying is something unacceptable.
Instead, listen to the advice of child psychologists Penny van Bergen and Carol Newell.
Make sure it's a lie
Small children do not always distinguish between fantasy and reality: for example, they may seriously claim that the mess in their room is the work of a monster passing by.
But if we are talking about much more serious things (sexual inviolability, unacceptable attitude of the teacher, etc.), do not rush to dismiss the information received from the child, but first double-check the information.
Show your child your love
Children need to know that if they make a mistake, they will be supported and helped. Help them with difficult homework and glue a broken vase together, and their fear of failure and accidental mistakes will disappear. As a result, they will not resort to lying as a means of protection.
Talk to your child
"You broke the vase and didn't tell me because you were afraid of my reaction, right?" - this phrase will help you understand the reasons for the action. Agree that you are indeed a little upset and offer the fidget to fix everything - think together how this can be done to set the "hero of the occasion" to find a solution to the problem.
Discussing emotions helps children understand what lying is, what internal experiences drive them to lie, and the impact it has on others and themselves.
Support your child
Try to teach your child that being honest is worthy and makes you strong, not vulnerable. To do this, first of all, do not punish your child for telling the truth, but encourage him.
