You could take it as consolation that a recent study showed that young children who lied generally scored higher on intelligene tests. According to the study, young children are not usually advanced enough to the point that they can perceive a reality or perspective outside of their own. What happens to them or what they perceive is what the rest of the world perceives also. Lying shows that they've reached a point of abstract thinking where they understand that their point of view is different than those around them.
Or he's just being four.
Excerpt fromt he study:
It starts very young. Indeed, bright kids—those who do better on other academic indicators—are able to start lying at 2 or 3. “Lying is related to intelligence,” explains Dr. Victoria Talwar, an assistant professor at Montreal’s McGill University and a leading expert on children’s lying behavior.
Although we think of truthfulness as a young child’s paramount virtue, it turns out that lying is the more advanced skill. A child who is going to lie must recognize the truth, intellectually conceive of an alternate reality, and be able to convincingly sell that new reality to someone else. Therefore, lying demands both advanced cognitive development and social skills that honesty simply doesn’t require. “It’s a developmental milestone,” Talwar has concluded.
This puts parents in the position of being either damned or blessed, depending on how they choose to look at it. If your 4-year-old is a good liar, it’s a strong sign she’s got brains. And it’s the smart, savvy kid who’s most at risk of becoming a habitual liar.
Can I use that on a portfolio for GS9 to apply to DYS? :LOL:
Hang in there Kriston! If you don't see a marked improvement by 10, then seek professional help. In other words, it's a common behavior and requires corrective action by the parent. But *sometimes* that's not enough, that's when I'd see professional help. My thoughts are that most undesireable childhood behaviors are outgrown/corrected by 12, then it becomes willful choices. But I wouldn't wait until 12 to call in help.
Just be careful he doesn't feel labeled as the 'bad kid' for lying and older brother is the 'good kid' because he doesn't lie. He should feel guilt, because he is guilty. Awww, I think you get it, and you're doing fine.
