What Is a Creative Punishment for Lying?
It's not uncommon for children to lie. According to Discovery Communications, LLC, lying is actually proof of cognitive development and children often learn how to lie from their parents. To prevent lying, set an example for straightforward honesty. This won't ensure that your child will never lie, but it does pave the way for you to nip the lying habit in the bud with some creative and thought-provoking consequences designed to inspire honest communication from your child.
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Self-Punishment
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Make the punishment of limited game playing reasonable, not excessive. Sometimes children lie because they feel they have no other way to control a situation. Allow them an opportunity to take control by letting them come up with their own punishment for lying. Kids can feel a better sense of power and accountability in their lives by deciding on a punishment that fairly addresses the offense. Give your child some guidance to make sure he's not too hard or too lenient on himself and ask him questions concerning what he feels is fair and what will effectively keep him from lying in the future. When kids devise their own punishments, such as doing extra chores or taking time away from playing video games, it relieves parents from seeming like the "bad guys."
Community Service
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An honest day's work can help a child make amends with others as well as herself for telling a lie. A day of community service is an excellent way to give back to others while gaining perspective on what it means to be genuine. Telling a lie draws your child's character into question and the act often instills in her guilt that's not easily erased. Volunteer work at a local animal shelter or place of worship allows her to regain her pride and realize that lying is beneath her character.
Video Reenactment
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Create a video reenactment of your child telling a lie. Have family members play certain characters if necessary. Take this project as seriously as possible so your child can see himself as he's in the act of telling a lie. Have him study his own facial expressions while thinking about the feelings that led him to lie in the first place. This punishment allows your child an in-depth view into his own sense of morality and it also allows him to see himself as others view him when he's lying. Afterwards, record an enactment of the situation in which your child tells the truth. Let him compare his "dishonest self" with his "honest self" and encourage him to strive for the latter.
Buy the Lie
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Lying has emotional consequences, but children sometimes have a hard time understanding of the effects of causing others pain through lying. Create a monetary punishment for being dishonest. Set a specific dollar amount your child has to pay for telling a lie. This punishment is particularly effective with teens who comprehend the value of cash. Store the money in a jar and allow your child to earn it back for telling the truth instead of giving in to the temptation of lying. Children need to develop responsibility and have the feeling that they can influence what happens to them. "Buying" the lie and having the chance to earn back money by telling the truth allows children to have direct control over their behavior.
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Time-outs. Rewards. Logical consequences. Loss of privileges. If youve tried every classic strategy to get your kid to listen and theyre still hitting, talking back, or taunting their little brother, you might be sabotaging your discipli
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