Most children go through a streak of dishonesty. The consequences of honesty and deceit are still being explored by their growing minds. If your child has entered this stage, the way you handle their behavior can help them to be more forthcoming in the future.
According to an article by Dr. Anita M. Schimizzi, parents must approach lying while focusing on three objectives: attaining the truth, making amends, and learning. Dr. Schimizzi emphasizes that irrational punishment has been found to intensify lying. Children who learn to fear harsh consequences for being caught in a lie will lie more frequently and go to greater lengths to go undiscovered. As the doctor says:
If our kids fear us, fear being punished, fear the lecture, etc., then they will be less likely to come clea.
The key to building a trusting relationship with your child is maintaining a calm, fair demeanor. That way, your child will not be afraid of telling you the truth.
