Effective Ways for Mothers to Address Types of Lying in Children Without Scolding

The different types of lying in children are among the challenges mothers face during the parenting journey, especially when a child talks about things that are not true. This often leaves mothers feeling confused between the urge to punish the child and the need to contain the repeated behavior. However, these conflicting feelings can be managed more easily when the mother understands the child’s developmental stage, the reasons that lead the child to lie, and the best calm and constructive ways to handle the situation without confrontation. Here comes the role of the Benaat platform through this article, which provides mothers with comprehensive information about the issue and how to deal with it wisely.

Types of Lying in Children

Experts confirm that lying is a common behavior among children, especially in early developmental stages when imagination overlaps with reality. They have classified the types of lying in children to help mothers distinguish between them, as follows:

• Protective lying: Used by the child to protect themselves from punishment or to keep a personal secret.

• Planned (or tactical) lying: Used to achieve a specific goal, such as avoiding punishment or obtaining a reward.

• Imaginative lying: When the child mixes imagination with reality and narrates events that did not actually happen.

• Selective lying: Appears only in specific situations, without the child being dishonest by nature.

• Attention-seeking lying: Used to attract attention, influence others’ emotions, or gain sympathy.

• Escape lying: Used to avoid responsibility or get out of a particular problem.

Why Do Children Lie?

After identifying the types of lying in children, it is important to understand the reasons behind this behavior to handle it effectively:

• Fear of punishment after making a mistake.

• Feeling neglected or ignored and wanting to attract attention.

• Protecting oneself from embarrassment or bullying.

• Avoiding responsibility for a certain action.

• A vivid imagination that leads the child to tell unrealistic stories without the intention to lie.

How to Deal With a Child’s Lying

When a mother discovers that her child has used one of the types of lying in children, she should remain patient and calm, avoiding shouting, harsh punishment, or embarrassing the child in front of others.

It is better to replace punishment with understanding and emotional support by talking to the child about the consequences of lying and the importance of honesty, while trying to understand the reasons behind the behavior.

It is also recommended to give the child trust, encourage them to tell the truth, and reward honesty when it appears. Mothers can use stories and narratives that promote the value of honesty and highlight the negative consequences of lying.

When Does Lying Indicate a Deeper Problem?

If the types of lying in children become frequent and begin to noticeably affect the child’s behavior, the mother may need to consult specialists to better understand the child’s psychological development stages.

The Healthy Psychological Development Course presented by Dr. Saleh Abdel Karim offers practical steps to support children’s psychological well-being by understanding the factors that shape their personalities, strengthening their self-confidence, and learning how to deal with stubbornness in children.

The course also provides practical parenting strategies based on understanding the stages of child development. You can enroll through the Benaat platform to gain effective tools that support you on your parenting journey and help you manage children’s temper tantrums with awareness and confidence.

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