October 8th, 2024
Should you ignore lying?
Wise parents aren’t surprised by lying. They understand that children will lie in certain situations.
But that realization doesn’t make lying acceptable. Here’s a way to address the problem:
Very few humans, including adults, are like young George Washington in the cherry tree story. Most people, including children, tend to lie to protect themselves. If the youngster didn’t brush his teeth, and the parent asks, “Did you brush your teeth?” the answer will probably be a lie. So, why ask in the first place?
A better approach might be to say, “I hope you’re protecting your teeth by brushing. I’ve been a little worried for you since I pay for the good dentist reports and you pay for the bad ones. I hope you get a good report from the dentist.”
And yes, a Love and Logic parent would have the child pay for the bad report.
Read more about how to address lying.
Originally posted 2012-05-12 12:54:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
