At what age,can a child start to lie???

Question

I think this is a good question...tom science

Answer 1

It depends on (no offense intended) how smart your kid is. Usually, they start at 3, but for different reasons than a 4 or 5 year old will lie.

Here is a decent article from Parentcenter.com:

"Your toddler lies because at this age he's not yet able to differentiate between reality and fantasy. Until he's 3 or 4, your toddler won't fully grasp the concept of lying, because he doesn't yet understand the idea of an objective truth based in fact. Instead, at this point his imagination is in overdrive, fueling the need to embellish. If his books are in a jumbled pile on the floor instead of arranged neatly in his bookcase, he may say that he tripped and hit the bookcase, causing an avalanche of books, when he may have just pulled out a few and the rest followed by accident.
He may also quickly forget just how an event took place. Did he track mud into the kitchen, or did the dog do it? Was it him or his friend who scrawled on his bedroom walls during their last playdate?

Another reason your toddler sometimes appears to stretch the truth is "magical thinking." According to experts, when a toddler wishes an event had taken place one way instead of another, he may stretch the truth because he actually believes that saying it will make it so. For example, let's say your toddler yanks a toy out of his baby sister's hand, causing her to burst into tears, then feels sorry he did it. So when you ask what happened, he says she dropped the toy herself because he wishes so much that that's how it had happened that he comes to believe it.

But don't worry — your child isn't headed for a life of crime just because he fibs once in a while. Taking on the mantle of parents' and society's behavioral standards and rules can be a tall task for a toddler. Here are some ways you can help your child learn to practice truthfulness:

• Encourage honesty. Instead of coming down hard on him when he lies, thank your toddler when he's being direct and tells the truth. You might say: "That's great that you told me about the broken truck. Now I understand how it got that way."

• Avoid putting your child on the spot. Try not to question him about the details of a transgression. After all, in many cases it's patently obvious; if he has chocolate all over his face, you know exactly what happened to his sister's candy. Often we question young children because we want them to confess, but this can create a battle where there doesn't need to be one.

• Act on what you know. In a matter-of-fact way, say, "Gee, Justin, it's not okay to take some of Becky's candies. They're hers and it upsets her to lose them. Let's give her some of yours, okay?" By taking this tack, not only have you circumvented the "confess-you-are-lying" confrontation, but you've also led him through the process of reparation. In the long run, knowing how to make up is a more useful skill than knowing how to respond to an interrogation.

• Model trust. Show your toddler that you trust him and he can trust you by always telling him the truth. Make it a priority to keep your word, and apologize profusely if you break a promise. He'll learn more from your behavior than he ever could from your admonitions. "

Answer 2

at the age of 2 or 3

Answer 3

A child can start lying at an early age. As soon as a child knows right from wrong then they can lie. To LIE to get out of trouble ....I'd say 4-5 yrs of age.

Answer 4

Very small toddlers can "lie" , but I dont think it is really lying, but more of an imagination problem. I think real lying starts about the time kindergarten starts.
I remember as plain as day lying in the 1st grade and knowing I did it. I saw my friend still the pencils out of our teachers desk and when the teacher asked me if I knew anything about it, I lied big time and said no. Heck, I was in on the whole thing.

Answer 5

As soon as they can talk lol. There is a 2 year old here that lies, but then again my daughter is 4 and doesn't lie. It's all about how they are raised, what they are taught, and what kind of influences they are around.

Answer 6

When they start to realize right from wrong and that if they do something wrong they will get in trouble. My daughter has lied a few times. The first time was shortly after she turned two. She smelled like my perfume and i asked her if she was into it and she said no. Also, my bottle was not where i left it. She finally said she did get into it. Anyways that was the first time. All kids do it sometime or another, you just have to nip it in the bud before they get to old.

Answer 7

usually at the age when he knows a lie will get him what he wants or wants out of. i guess that would be two or two and a half years old. although i don't believe they think of it as lying and it is hard to punish them for it (because they don't understand the meaning of it).

Answer 8

A kid tells his first lie when he realizes that crying gets attention. Then he cries for attention, and not just because he is hungry, or scared, or in pain.

Lying by using words is easy, because the kid has been lying for years by then.

Answer 9

When they start to talk? lol

Seriously around 2, cause they don't want to get into trouble because by then they've learned what makes you mad.

The thing is they don't understand the consequences of lies and truth, nor do they really understand the difference, they just want to make you happy.

You have to teach them....

Answer 10

5 or 6 is a good one