WHY SOME CHILDREN TELL LIES

John has always being an honest boy who always follows truth and rejects lies. When he was seven, he was seen with a football. His mother questioned him about it, and being an honest boy, he affirmed that it was taken from a neigbour’s lawn. Little did he know that their neigbour’s son (James) has searched endlessly for that football.

One faithful day, James saw John playing with the football, he ran quickly like a hare to his mother, screaming for joy that he has seen his missing football. His mother, who had fruitlessly searched for it walked straight to John. No sooner had John saw her walked to him like a lion walking to its prey. He ran to his mother with fear and tears written all over his face. His mother came out to know why her son ran to the house in the manner he did. As soon as James mother told her of her reason for the visit, she confidently claimed that the football was not stolen but was seen lying carelessly on their lawn. She handed it over to them and James left happily.

James looked at his mother with a straight face, as soon as they left. He asked her why she had lied. She defended herself and left him looking astounded at her action.

James grew into an adolescent and kept taking people’s things because he knew that his mother would always defend his erroneous actions.

Many parents teach their children to lie and actually encourage them in the practice it, they forget that very early in life, children begin to understand what truth is.

Some children tell lies because of the following reasons:

• Studies has shown that all children are natural hero- worshipers. They hate being criticized. A wise parent should take time to investigate their children when they discover any sign of tell- tale.
• Unfair criticism by their parents when there may be no reason for it. A child who is constantly exposed to criticism by their parents may eventually withdraw into himself and live in a world of fantasy and unreality.
• Jealousy.
• Peer pressure.
• Fear of been punished.

Suggestions on how to help your child speak the truth:

• Be sure your children understand the differences between what is right and what is wrong.
• Try to understand why he did not tell the truth.
• If you feel that he did not intend to deceive you, be careful about punishment; otherwise he may be tempted to tell more lies in future to escape further punishment.
• Set your child a good example of truthfulness and honesty.
• Above all, pray ceaselessly that any lying spirit be uprooted from your child.