Did you Catch Your Child Lying? How to Deal with the Sneaky Behavior

Sneaky behavior in children can be the most troublesome things for parents to handle. Dishonesty is one of the most important virtues and if your child chooses to lie over and over again, it is an indication that you have failed as a parent. However, all is not lost; there is always something that can be done about the sneaky attitude. This article will explore how you can detect when your child is lying and take proper measures to eliminate the behavior.

Understand Why Children Lie

The first and the most important thing for parents are to understand where the sneaky behavior comes from. Refrain from grounding your child or sentencing him for a week of punishment before understanding why he did what he did. Childhood is a messed up age when hormones and the environment do not exactly resound well with each other. Children can use lying as a way to get out of a circumstance that they believe is out of their control. In most serious situations, children use lying as a way to avoid repercussion or punishment.
Research shows that children who have a friendlier bond with their parents seldom portray a sly attitude as compared to children who usually feel pressured by their parents. If your child is afraid to share something with you, there is a pretty good chance that he will keep the important details to himself. Therefore, understand what’s making your child engage in such a behavior and then try to fix it.

Let the Time Heal

You are probably aware of the common saying “time heals.” It really does. As mentioned above, childhood can be a messed up stage for children; most of the time children are not sure how they want to handle a certain situation and they seek refuge in lying. This kind of behavior can usually be observed in toddlers who are exposed to negative peer groups at school. However, over the time, children can learn the consequences of lying and eliminate the behavior on their own. So, let the time heal before you take any serious action.

Have “The Talk”

If you think that your child is not going to shed the sneaky behavior, then it’s time for you to have the talk. Parent to child conversations are a great way to talk to your child about his behavior. A good way to do this is to engage your child with his favorite outdoor playground equipment and try to have the conversation. Avoid confronting your child; always approach the situation in a friendly manner so your child does not feel like he’s being judged for what he did. Try explaining to your child the consequences of lying and why it is moral for people to engage in devious behavior.

A growing body of research suggests that active children who regularly participate in Preschool playground equipment activities usually have stronger character than those who pursue a sedentary approach towards life. If the above-mentioned ways fail to work, analyze your relationship with your child and see what’s causing the problem.