Lying

What Dr. Ann Corwin, The Parenting Doctor, Has To Say About Lying

Most parents start to realize their kids are liars between the ages of 5 and 7. Some of you might remember the show with Bill Cosby called “Kids Say the Darnest Things”? All the kids on that show were kids this age because whatever a child thinks and feels at this age they say. They have language down to a science by talking in full sentences and telling stories. In school, they are learning by story telling and they still want their parents to read them stories all the time.

KIDS NEED TO PRACTICE THIS STORY TELLING SKILL.
Since story telling at this age is how they learn to communicate as well as acquire new information. It also provides a way for the child to practice listening to others as they tell stories and discovering how others listen and react to them as they tell their own story.

This story telling is misunderstood as the beginning of lying. Parents are horrified that their child would make up such a ‘tall tale’ and cannot understand why their child would do such a thing. The answer is your child is practicing a new skill, how to tell a story.

Since we do not want to discourage story telling, but do want our children to learn how to tell the truth it becomes extremely important teach your child the difference between a ‘real’ and ‘pretend’ story.

So, whenever your child tells you a story you know didn’t really happen, don’t call them a liar, but instead say, “That was quite a story, even though it didn’t really happen, so just remember to call it a pretend story the next time you tell it”. Then when you know their story really did happen call it that by saying, “Wow, that is a real story, it did happen, thank for telling me”.

Don’t be too quick to label your kids as liars when in fact they are just practicing a very important story telling skill.

New Year’s Resolutions…Just Do It!

January of any year is famously all about promises.  At the beginning of the year we usually reflect on the last and resolve to change in the year ahead.  Change is good, it means we are moving forward and not feeling so stuck.  But, where I always get stuck is the ‘talking’ about change instead [...]

Got Plans for the Holidays?

I am sure you are already planning where you will be for the holidays, what to buy, what you will donate to others, what parties you will attend, who will be coming over to your house, what to eat for special holiday meals and the list goes on and on.
But, do you have a plan [...]

Parents Ask…Because Raising Kids Raises Questions!

www.parentsask.com is a new place to go on the Internet to get interesting, informative, and accurate parenting information.  It’s a place for you to ask questions about your kids.  You talk to other parents, get their opinions and suggestions for any issue you are facing in your family.  You can post a question yourself, ask [...]

Tips to Surviving Summer

Summer vacation… kids cannot wait and parents look forward to less structure and fun. But by the middle of July, the dreams of carefree summer fun seem to fade. Why? 
 
Kids love to predict: they want to know what’s coming next so they can manage their behavior. Even though it sounds great to just relax, [...]

Want To Know Why You’re In a Bad Mood? Watch T.V.

Ever get up “on the wrong side of the bed” and don’t know why?
At one time or another just about everybody experiences not knowing why they feel the way they do.  Kids get even more confused than parents do about their feelings.  All kids behaviors are in response to some sort of feeling and most [...]

In Praise of Fathers

Fathers should be appreciated all year… not just on one day! While Father’s Day is a tremendous idea, we all need to affirm Dads for their significance every day of the year.
I come from a long line of fantastic fathering men. My grandfathers were both grand fathering me from birth to their deaths. My Dad, [...]

You Know I Love You Anyway

In celebration of Mother’s Day, I’d like to share a special poem with you that was given to me by a mom that I had been working with earlier this year. She was a new mommy having trouble adjusting to being a stay-at-home-mom after the birth of her second child. She came seeking guidelines in [...]

Columbine…An Anniversary no one wants to celebrate!

No question 10 years ago and no question now that Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were both severely mentally unstable teenagers.  New perspectives on this horrifying tragedy are emerging.  My only hope with any new information the parenting community does get is that all parents try to remember these three points:
#1 Learn what drives your [...]

Lying…Why Tall Tales are Important!

Hi Ann
I have a situation with Elizabeth (my 4 1/2 year old) which I never ran across with Emily before. Elizabeth has been into telling very “tall tales” as of late. Sometimes I think she makes up stories because she missed out on something. (For example, a few weeks back, there was a coyote in our backyard. Emily saw it, [...]

Lying does serve a purpose

Ann,
You won’t believe this one. After this incident with the shoplifting this past weekend, Chelsea was also recognized at school for the 8th Grade Awards – she was honored for Honor Roll for all year; Presidents Fitness (only 15 kids got this from the 8th grade); PAL (Peer Advisory League) – which is a role [...]

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