What to do when your child starts to lie

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In any period of rapid learning, a child’s imagination serves a vital function. Through fantasy, she can explore the ideas she is developing. In fantasy lies safety. She won’t need to act out her feelings and desires if she can dream them out. Imagination and wishful thinking help a child explore her new world without the dangers of going overboard.

One behaviour that fantasy and reality meet for a small child is lying. This is normal behaviour in four and five-year-olds and can be an opportunity for parents to teach a child about responsibility to others. That lesson is a lifetime project for all of us.