One of my kids is a pro at it. It drives me absolutely insane! Especially because she knows that is the one thing that really ticks me off. It’s usually nothing major – just little white lies. It just seems to come so natural to her and she is not even 10 years old yet. Has anyone else had that problem and what did you do about it?
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If spanking isn’t right for you…
I know a mother that does Tabasco sauce on her daughter’s tongue to quit lies and quit cussing. Her daughter is 8.
My own mother would put a little bit of Dawn soap in my mouth for the same reasons. That stuff is hard to get the taste out of the mouth! It will really teach a lesson.
Personally I believe in the whole punishment fit the crime deal.. so the sauce (if they hate it.. most children do) or Dawn soap would be effective.
You have to do something. Ignoring it or yelling is not effective. Timeout doesn’t work unless you REALLY know how to use it. There is a book called Beyond Time Out that would help out. Very good price for it on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Time-Out-Beth-Grosshans-Ph-D/dp/1402752970/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251136656&sr=8-1
This book could be helpful. I’m a mother and trying to find something on what I called "middle ground" parenting. I don’t want to be a pushover, but I don’t want to be a dictator. Both are very popular parenting styles. Most parenting books encourage either or both of those styles. However, I prefer middle ground which Beyond Time Out is good at showing. It describes why standard Time Out does NOT work. It also explains various parenting styles and why they do not work. It also shows steps on what DOES work.
Of course YOU are the parent. And YOU know your child best and what would work best. I just hope my ideas or the book might help you
It’s never too late to try to break habits (i.e. liars). Best of luck.
the child that tells little white lies needs a big white hand applied to their bottom. additional spankings is lies continues.
wow, that sucks. beat the crap out of her….. that will get her to listen. hahahaha lol
Actually I just went through this exact thing … but mines a little different only because dad & I have been divorced for almost 5 yrs we have both remarried & now our daughter finds it just awesome to tell lies! Little lies, big lies, lies that hurt other people!! About 2 yrs ago I took a parenting class to help with the transition ~ they taught me that it’s okay to take everything personal away from them & have them feel the repercussions of there actions. So last week when she threw a HUGE one out there ~ I simply told her that her lies will begin to affect her, when she came home from school she had a bed, a dresser, a desk, & clothes & 2 weeks grounding to her room! (She even lost her tinkerbell sheets & comforter) She now has to earn them back by being honest, not one of her easier qualities. I have tried everything from standards, to corner, to spanking, nothing has worked but this ~ we are on week 2 & so far so good. Not even little ones!
Sometimes kids are afraid to tell the truth because the possible consequences seem unbearable to them. But in most cases kids learn to tell lies for mere convenience, and most likely that is the case with your daughter. I assume that you have already had a number of serious talks with her about this and impressed on her the risk of losing people’s trust when you are dishonest. If that is not enough I would suggest that you attach a consequence to each lie you discover. That can be loss of a cherished thing (such as computer, TV or cell phone access for a while) or being grounded for a day or two. When I was young, my mom used to spank me and my siblings whenever she found out that we were telling a lie. That was pretty effective. At least we learned to be more careful…