How to encourage your school child not to lie

By the time your child is in primary school, he or she will know the difference between telling a story and telling a lie. They are also old enough to know that they are expected to be honest with people and if they aren’t, they can get into trouble.

But, a lot of the time children tell lies because they are afraid to tell the truth about something they’ve done wrong. That’s why it’s always a good idea to create an environment where your little one feels safe to tell the truth.

Here’s what you can do to encourage honesty in your little one:

• If you suspect that your child is telling a lie, don’t accuse them of lying or call them a liar. Instead, tell them that the story doesn’t sound like the truth to you and that it’s normal to worry about telling the truth when we’ve done something wrong. This will encourage them to open up.

• Don’t ask them whether or not they are telling the truth, especially if you suspect that they aren’t. This will just give them the chance to tell another lie.

• If your child confesses about lying don’t tell them that you knew they were lying all along. Instead, appreciate the fact that they were honest with you and try not to bring it up in the future.

• Try to find out why your child tells lies. They could lie about doing their homework because they don’t understand how to do it. Whatever the reason may be, try to figure out why it happens so that you are in  better position to deal with it.

• Reward your child every time they tell the truth. They will be more likely to the honest with you the next time they’re in a sticky situation.

• Let them know that lying really doesn’t work and that they should take responsibility for their actions.

• Stay as calm as you can. If your child finally reveals the truth, try your best to stay calm. If you react in a way that scares them, the chances are, they won’t be honest with you the next time.

A sure way to encourage honesty in your little one is to lead by example. Be as honest as you can with them and if he or she asks about difficult subjects like death or divorce, tell them that it’s hard to talk about and when they are old enough you will tell them the full story.

Remember, your little one still looks up to you, so the more honest you are with them and the people around you, the more honest they will be with you.