When it comes to raising kids its essential for parents to provide a foundation of truth telling and integrity, but not always possible without a few bumps.
"When folks say, well my child doesn't lie, that's why am smiling, most people lie. Most kids lie," said child specialist Dr. Randy Cale.
Cale says children of all ages lie occasionally; they tell white lies to avoid getting into trouble. They lie to protect other her family members or perhaps peers, and in some cases the lie to impress others to build up their ego -- which can be more troublesome.
"When it moves to the stage where it becomes quite habitual and now the ego is kind of building itself, or there is a way to the child continues to create stories and creates lies that builds them up. That's a process for where attention where is being gained into a story. The lie, the drama that is created out of the lie, it pulls mom, peers even teachers into lies," said Cale.
Engaging kids about the lies can make things worse.
"If a child is a patterned liar and we try to get them to tell the truth, we engage that lying process and we are pushing, pushing, pushing to get to the truth we actually promote and create a better liar. We don't have to engage that process. We don't want to force them to come clean with the truth. Trust your gut, you know the truth and respond accordingly," Cale said.
Most psychologists agree that kids learn from their parents, it's critical to be consistent.
"If we are modeling integrity and our kids lie occasionally just follow through like as you normally would. Talk with them, perhaps have a consequence. If possible, if it's something that they stole and there is a way for restitution, I would always have that included," Cale said.
According to the experts telling the truth it can be risky. If you child decides to confess reinforce that behavior and decide together on a less strict consequence.
For more information head to this parenting website.