Talking it through: If you discover your child has been lying, explain what he has done wrong patiently but firmly, rather than getting angry.
In order for a child to tell a lie he must have reached a stage in his psychological development where he can distinguish fantasy from realty. For example, if a 15-month-old is chastised by his mother for smearing poster paint on a wall and he shakes his head vigorously in denial, he is not lying – he may have genuinely forgotten the action, or may wish he hadn’t done it, or may simply be unable to recognize the difference between fantasy and reality. Only when a child reaches the age of three or four years will he be capable of lying, and most children will lie if they find a situation sufficiently interesting.
