How to Stop Teenagers From Lying

While it is upsetting for parents, most teenagers have told a lie at some point or another. Teens lie for various reasons, and parents must decide which lies to address and which to ignore. If your teen lies to spare another person's feelings, it may not be a big deal. If she, however, lies constantly to get attention or to cover up dangerous behavior, you need to have a talk with her

Instructions

    • 1

      Talk to your teen about his lying in a quiet room. To avoid reacting in anger, take some time to calm yourself down before you confront him. Janet Lehman of Empowering Parents suggests telling your teen the behaviors you saw in a calm manner. Tell him that you do not appreciate him lying to you, and that there will be consequences for his actions. Allow him to tell his side of the story. If you carefully listen to him, you may find out the underlying reasons for his lie.

    • 2

      Appreciate your teen when she is honest. Express how happy you are that she told the truth by saying, "I am proud of you for owning up to your mistake. Even though there will be consequences, I know that you learned a valuable lesson." If she knows how understanding you are, she may be less inclined to lie in the future.

    • 3

      Model honesty in your life. Talk openly about the importance of honesty and show honesty in different situations, such as returning money you found on the ground to the rightful owner. If your teen notices how you are always truthful, he may follow your example.

    • 4

      Talk with your teen about the consequences of lying. Give him examples of how lying can negatively affect others. You can talk about a time you told a lie and the consequences that followed. Your teen will appreciate that you shared a personal story with her and may recognize that honesty is the best policy.

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