Why Telling White Lies to Your Child is Bad

While raising children, parents agree that they should always teach them that honesty is the best policy. However, it may become difficult to stick to these words in some situations. You can trust Capalaba child care with nurturing good values in your child. There are times when tough situations crop up and it is not possible to tell the complete truth to the children. And, at times, it is easier to push off some tricky conversations until the small child turns a few years older. This can be because parent believe that they are sparing the child the distress of a situation like financial stress, separation, divorce, etc. You may find it easier to narrate a fib and prevent the hard conversation for the time when children will begin to understand. However, this can lead to trouble down the road.

Here are some vital reasons why you should avoid telling white lies to your child:

There are different types of lies

It is likely that you have lied to your children over the years. However, you are not the only one. According to a study, nearly all the parents across the globe end up lying to their children for various reasons. The lies may include supporting mythical fictions such as Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, or praising their drawing when it is not good. These are not harmful lies though. When an individual cares about someone else, they may end up lying. It is known as a pro-social lie. It is a lie that is told to prevent causing emotional pain. These types of lies are a temporary solution and parents expect that the truth will come out at a later date.

What happens when you lie?

Most of the time, children know when they are being lied to. Children have an instinctive sense of being able to tell when things are true or not. They might believe you temporarily, but you will be unmasked soon. And, when they will find out that you are telling them white lies, it may be tough for you to explain yourself. If you’re lying to avoid a tough discussion, that discussion will be tougher once the child realises they’ve been lied to. It is therefore ideal to stick to the truth instead of speaking white lies. And when you lie to your child at a tender age, it may create various side effects. According to child care experts in Capalaba, when you lie to your children, you are also conveying that you are not trustworthy.

Alternatives to white lies

It is good to explore various useful alternatives to white lies. You may opt to apologise to your child. It may be tough to admit when you are wrong in front of your children. If you dare to admit to your children that you were wrong about something, it will establish a greater sense of trust. You can give simplified answers when your child asks you about something sensitive such as sex or drugs and discuss those things in more detail when they are older.

Conclusion

The above reasons are strong enough for you to avoid telling white lies. Day Care Capalaba practices honesty with children effectively. As it helps in building a great sense of trust between you and your children.