Liar, liar, pants on fire

October 10, 1:43 PMPhiladelphia Early Childhood Parenting ExaminerRobin Jessie-Green

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My dad's a superhero
AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

Some children fib, some tell little white lies, and some tell some serious whoppers; in the end they all lie. Story-telling or embellishments are acceptable at a young age and is to be expected. Teetering the line between the truth as it really is and as you see it, can at times be a matter of perception, and at others be blatant and deliberate deception.

Children begin to test the waters of tall tale telling as early as four years old. It is a healthy sign of a child’s emotional health and that his or her imagination is developing. However, parents must aid in helping their children “incorporate a conscience,” (Brazelton, M.D., 1992, 338) to prevent consistent amoral behavior.

As children progress in development, they begin to feel guilt and remorse associated with telling lies. Their little moral compasses may curtail future lie telling, and may persuade them from being lying and deceitful adults.

Unfortunately, there are some children who are not able to ascertain the importance of honesty. They can suffer from a compulsive or pathological lying disorder that directly affects their loved ones and others they encounter in life.

If you suspect your child lies at an unhealthy level, seek the help of a trained professional in child psychology to thwart the possibility of his or her carrying their problems untreated, into adulthood. “Consistent lying is just a symptom of underlying anxiety or fearfulness.” (Brazelton, M.D., 1992, p. 339). That is why it is important to address the issue and not suppress it.

Source:

Brazelton, M.D. (1992). The Essential Reference: Your Child's Emotional and Behavioral Development.

Perseus Books: Reading, Massachusetts