Like adults, children lie for a variety of reasons, including the following: Avoiding something undesirable or challenging It can be very useful to understand a child’s motivations for lying.

In older children, chronic lying can be associated with antisocial behaviour and delinquency. (2010) Psychology Today, Posted February 21, 2010. … Continue reading Children who engage in frequent lying should, with parental consent, be referred to a psychologist. Lying or perceived lying, due to miscommunication or misunderstanding, can be an associated problem. Some of these children have trouble in controlling aspects of their thinking or behaviour. It can also be a symptom of conditions such as Attention Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD). Lying can also lead to anxiety and poor self-concept.Ĭhronic lying may indicate an underlying issue that needs to be addressed, such as limited problem-solving or poor communication skills. Lying can have an emotional impact on the child who lies, others who hear the lie, and those included in the lie. This can lead to complex social problems. If lying is a problem behaviour during the early to mid-primary years it may reflect cognitive and/or social immaturity.Ī child who frequently tells lies is likely to lose the trust of their peers. Queensland Government, Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services. Typically, a child develops a sense of right and wrong by about nine or ten years of age.

However, lying is problematic if it occurs frequently, becomes a habit or is hurtful to the child or to others. It is not unusual for children to sometimes tell lies or embellish the truth, particularly in the preschool and early primary years.

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