Since you don’t want this to happen to your child,
keeping him from playing outside with their friends
for the next couple of days might help him realize real
life repercussions to lying.
Reward truth-telling. Telling the truth requires
bravery and the discipline to think before speaking.
So the next time your child tells the truth when it
wasn’t convenient to do so, reward your child with
encouraging words. Positive feedback loops are even
more powerful and effective than negative ones.
Provide empathy. Don’t forget that you won’t be
the only one disappointed with your child. They will
be disappointed in themselves too. Remind them that
their mistakes don’t determine who they are. And
explain that while everyone lies at some point in their
life, not everyone continues to lie. One of the most
powerful ways to provide empathy to your child is
by sharing a personal story about how you lied when
you were a child. I once did this with my child and I
saw her countenance change in a sudden flash from
one of self-loathing to an encouraged child ready to
move on from her mistake.
All kids lie at some point. It’s a part of the
developmental process. While no parent wants
to see their child continue to lie, an over-the-top
punishment might be counter-productive. The best
way to encourage your child to tell the truth is by
seeking to understand the motive for lying, creating
an atmosphere where he can be honest with you,
and following through with consequences that are
appropriate.
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