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Good Inside with Dr. BeckyGood Inside with Dr. Becky

Why Kids Lie and What to Do About It

When your child says something like "I just saw a komodo dragon in my room!" or "I drove the bus home from school today!", your first impulse might be to say, "Sweetie, that's not true." But here's the thing: There's always a truth in every lie. In this week's episode, Dr. Becky talks to three parents about a new approach to lying - one that involves responding with curiosity so you can find out what's really going on with your child. She explores how to unpack a child's imaginative stories and respond in ways that build connection... without encouraging dishonesty. From engaging in play to modeling recovery from a lie, you'll learn multiple different strategies for getting to the kernel of truth your child is trying to communicate. Join Good Inside Membership: http://www.goodinside.com Follow Dr. Becky on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbeckyatgoodinside Sign up for our weekly email, Good Insider: https://www.goodinside.com/newsletter Want More? Check these out: Stop Calling Your Kid "Defiant" - https://youtu.be/DJXEYwgwNwY How Can I Get My Kid to Stop Doing an Annoying Behavior https://youtu.be/OD50b3Y8Qi8 Why Won't My Kids Listen To Anything I Say? - https://youtu.be/Rb7FSL1y3Oo Deeply Feeling Kids Need a Different Approach - https://youtu.be/WQNM5EyDtKE Motherhood Doesn’t Have to Be Martyrdom - https://youtu.be/ywJMtRHzqFY

Dr. BeckyhostParent 1 (unnamed)guest
May 6, 202225mWatch on YouTube ↗

Episode Details

EPISODE INFO

Released
May 6, 2022
Duration
25m
Channel
Good Inside with Dr. Becky
Watch on YouTube
▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

When your child says something like "I just saw a komodo dragon in my room!" or "I drove the bus home from school today!", your first impulse might be to say, "Sweetie, that's not true." But here's the thing: There's always a truth in every lie. In this week's episode, Dr. Becky talks to three parents about a new approach to lying - one that involves responding with curiosity so you can find out what's really going on with your child. She explores how to unpack a child's imaginative stories and respond in ways that build connection... without encouraging dishonesty. From engaging in play to modeling recovery from a lie, you'll learn multiple different strategies for getting to the kernel of truth your child is trying to communicate. Join Good Inside Membership: http://www.goodinside.com Follow Dr. Becky on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbeckyatgoodinside Sign up for our weekly email, Good Insider: https://www.goodinside.com/newsletter Want More? Check these out: Stop Calling Your Kid "Defiant" - https://youtu.be/DJXEYwgwNwY How Can I Get My Kid to Stop Doing an Annoying Behavior https://youtu.be/OD50b3Y8Qi8 Why Won't My Kids Listen To Anything I Say? - https://youtu.be/Rb7FSL1y3Oo Deeply Feeling Kids Need a Different Approach - https://youtu.be/WQNM5EyDtKE Motherhood Doesn’t Have to Be Martyrdom - https://youtu.be/ywJMtRHzqFY

SPEAKERS

  • Dr. Becky

    host

    Parenting expert and host of Good Inside, offering guidance and scripts for common child behavior challenges.

  • Parent 1 (unnamed)

    guest

    Caller/parent (Kim) seeking advice about a 4-year-old’s obvious, non-malicious lying and how to respond without shame.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, featuring Dr. Becky and Parent 1 (unnamed), Why Kids Lie and What to Do About It explores reframing kids’ lies as play, connection, and skill-building opportunities Many preschool “lies” are developmentally normal storytelling where the fantasy–reality boundary is still forming.

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