Parenting Tips for Lying, Stealing & Other Annoying Behaviors

Certain behaviors in our kids are harder to handle. On the top of the list are lying and stealing. What discipline works? When is it a sign of a much bigger problem? Host Dawn Davenport, Executive Director of Creating a Family, the national infertility & adoption education and support nonprofit, interviews Kim John Payne, author of The Soul of Discipline: The Simplicity Parenting Approach to Warm, Firm, and Calm Guidance – From Toddlers to Teens, a family counselor for 30 years, and father of two teenagers; and Rebecca Rozema, an adoption social worker with Bethany Christian Services and mom of 5 sons.

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Hit the Highlights

I’m assuming most kids lie and steal and cheat at times. What ages are most common for lying?
Are very young children developmentally capable of intentionally lying?
At what age do kids develop a moral compass?
Is it important to understand the reason for a lie or reasons a child stole?
Effective tools for teaching children not to lie and not to steal.
Reward telling the truth.
Give time to slow down to decide whether to tell the truth or a lie.
Give do-overs.
How to use consequences for teaching children not to lie or steal or cheat.
Books about lying and telling the truth.
Effectiveness of story telling to help children develop the skills to tell the truth or not steal.
How does adoption play into this behavior?
When should parents become concerned?
Stealing? Feels more worrisome because others are involved and hurt.