Houston Parents Teach Honesty With Developmentally Appropriate Strategies
Young children often blur pretend play and reality. That is part of normal development and not a cause for alarm. Research shows that early lie-telling emerges alongside cognitive growth as children learn self-control and begin to understand other people’s thoughts, a skill known as theory of mind. Rather than viewing every false statement as defiance, families can use these moments to teach truth-telling with calm guidance.
Pediatric guidance reminds us that children under six can confuse fantasy and facts, and harsh punishment for lying rarely works. Modeling honesty, setting clear family expectations, and praising truthful statements are more effective approaches for long-term behavior.