Kids & Compulsive Lying

According to your little one, a dragon visited the school during recess and the teacher turned into a witch after correcting a student. These stories can eventually become tiresome for parents, and they may fear that a child's lying has become compulsive. There are several strategies parents can employ when it comes to handling a child's storytelling abilities.

  1. Childhood Development

    • Though you may be frustrated with your child's lies, creating stories is a normal part of childhood development, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. This behavior may surface around age 3 and continue for several years. As children get older and advance through the early elementary grades, lies may become more complicated and elaborate. More often, lies may be used to hide wrongdoing and to avoid punishment, or they may be used to please parents, according to Dr. William Sears.

    Frequent Pretend

    • A child's compulsive lies may be more about playing or expressing desires than deceiving parents. If you overhear your child lying about going somewhere or receiving something, you should remind her that there is a difference between hoping for something and saying it happened, according to Dr. William Sears. A child's lies may also expose problems at home. If your daughter tells frequent lies about going on elaborate vacations with a sibling, it may be a sign that she feels neglected by him. Spending more time with him may reduce her desire to tell lies.

    What is Compulsive Lying?

    • When asked, children may eventually admit that their lies are pretend or make-believe, which is a sign of normal development. The pathological liar often believes the lies, according to medical doctor Charles C. Dike, writing for Psych Central Pro. Compulsive lying often has no obvious benefit, and the lies are likely to be seen as senseless. A child who lies compulsively may not only lie frequently, but the stories are also likely to be complicated tales with blends of reality and fantasy.

    Additional Information

    • As children get into elementary school, lies, stories and imaginary friends may gradually fade away. In some children, they may continue and become a habitual way for your child to cope with pain in his life, according to Dr. William Sears. If you feel that your child's lies are not a sign of normal development, talk to his pediatrician about what you can do to help.

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