Why do children tell lies?
Children generally tell lies when they are afraid of getting in trouble. When parents use punishments as disciplinary approaches, they become a threat to children who have a desperate need to maintain a strong connection with their parent. Children who are afraid of getting in trouble, face a very difficult dilemma between telling the truth and risking getting in trouble and loosing their parent’s connection and care or telling lies, which makes them feel bad and guilty and leaves them with the fear of being found out and hence loosing the parent’s connection and care. Children who know they have nothing to be ashamed of or nothing to hide will innocently own up to all sorts of mischief quite happily. This is the kind of innocence that needs to be protected and nurtured in young children to help them learn the habits of open and honest communication all through their life. Battle of Wills: When you view your relationship with your child as a battle of wills, you are both in battle with
