Many parents of preschool-age children become concerned when their child starts to tell lies, but this is normal behavior for children this age. Teachers at Primrose schools emphasize the importance of staying truthful to their students, and you too can teach your child about honesty with these helpful tips.   

Between the ages of 2 and 6, many children experience something called magical thinking. This is a normal developmental phase that can cause children to believe in a particular fantasy. For example, a child might assert that she must wear her purple rain boots to school to protect herself from catching the flu. Toddlers are not lying in the way that adults think about dishonesty! It’s perfectly normal for young children to fabricate stories that fit with their current wants and needs. 

Lying can also be a means for children to avoid unpleasant consequences and try to get what they want. While this type of dishonesty can be troubling to parents, know that lying is age-appropriate and normal for young children. That doesn’t mean you should let it go; it’s important to focus on teaching children honesty in a way that will shape their emotional and social development. Here are some helpful strategies:

• Join the fantasy…Since young children learn best through imaginative play, adults can help connect their child to reality by joining their child in their fantasy realm. While it may seem counterproductive, this simple trick helps children feel validated. If your child insists that eating cookies before dinner will make room in his tummy for vegetables, you might delightfully reply, “Oh! Wouldn’t that be wonderful? If we could eat yummy cookies before dinner to make room for healthy veggies, that would be exciting!”  Then, you can shift to the next step.
• …then gently redirect. Gently introduce another way to think about the issue at hand. For the example above, you might say, “I think it might work better to put the veggies in our tummies FIRST, so we’ll have room for the cookies afterward. That way our bodies can soak up the healthy veggies first and then our mouths can have a cookie party!” 
• Play real versus pretend games. Build conversations around fiction versus fact by playfully contemplating what is real and what is pretend. You and your child can “make” imaginary muffins and pretend to eat them together in the playroom. Then, make REAL muffins in the kitchen, reflecting on which experience was real and which was pretend while enjoying your snack.
• Read books about honesty. There are many children’s stories that can aid in teaching children honesty in fun and age-appropriate ways.  Help your child think critically about what’s happening in books by asking open-ended questions. Examples include:
  • How do you think that made the character feel?
  • Why do you think the character did that?
  • How do you feel when people tell you the truth?
• Reinforce truth–telling with encouragement. When your child tells the truth, pile on the positivity – especially if they’re coming clean after making a mistake! Children ultimately want to know they are in good graces with their caregivers, so be sure to delight in your child when you catch him being honest and tell him, “Thank you so much for telling the truth!”

Don’t fret if your little one starts telling fibs. It’s a natural part of their development and with your help they can understand the difference between the truth and fantasy and the importance of being honest. 

Want more tips for encouraging good character in your child? Check these out. 

• Parent Perspectives: Building Character Starts Early   
• 4 Tips for Raising Children Who Respect Community Helpers  
• To Teach Children Respect, Show Them Respect