Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Lying 2-year-old?

Under supervision, we allow DS2 to use screwdriver to change batteries out of his toys. Since then he wants to change batteries all the time, which is what I expect for his age.

When he tells us his toy needs �more batteries,� we usually show him his toy works as it is. He goes a step further by turning the toy off and tells us his toy needs �more batteries,� so his toy won�t work when we try it the first time around.

Right now, I usually just turn it back on and tell him it�s indeed working. Of course, he knows the toy works without me showing him.

Is this considered lying? How should I deal with it if it is?

I should be clearer in OP.

He knows how to turn on and off the toy, and he understands the toy won't work without being on. He turns off all his toys at night, and he makes sure they don't work when off.

What I am seeing is that he is telling us the toy needs new batteries after he purposely turns it off. For instance, he comes asking for new batteries. After I show him the toy works, he comes back asking for new batteries after turning the toy off.

I still wouldn't consider it lying, 'magic words' maybe? I would try to find another way he can meet what is obviously a strong need right now to practice the screw thing. Maybe some flat batteries in an old toy or something he can screw and unscrew?

Sorry - 'magic words' - means saying things how you wold like them to be, as if your words were magic, and its' completely age-appropriate behavior for a two year old. (Or one that can talk that clearly anyway, )

I read somewhere the best first response to that kind of lying, say something like, "you wish it was out batteries", at first. I'm past that with my three year old. I've already told him, nobody's going to want to talk to you if you keep on lying. He answered, "what's lying." (he told me he already put his underwear on when he was standing buck naked in front of me).
I can't remember what I was doing the other day, but I was multi-tasking. I told him I was busy doing one thing and he saw me doing another and he told me, "you're lying". And I tell him "don't pester people" enough that he said it back to me when I nagged him about cleaning his room.

"I think you mean 'can I use the screwdriver?' What do you think?"

It's just part of wanting reality to be what you say it is at that age of magical thinking, I think.

My two year old will scream "no, it's not dark, it's not time to go home" when we leave the playground. Same thing as your son wanting the toy to need new batteries.

Have you got one of these toys? They are great!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...IKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1SS5V26XNX8E7MD87EPG

On the old "milestone" chart, lying is said to generally begin in the later part of 3. This is more of a manipulation sort of thing. Not aimed at mom, but rather at the circumstance required to use the screwdriver.

I would be inclined to find some sort of kit that allows for assembly, disassembly and re-assembly.

I agree with BWBShari - I have a 17-year-old who's been accepted into the mechanical engineering program at the university, and when he was two he was the same way. I finally gave him some tools (real ones that he could only use with us but that were "his") and some old appliances like a blender base, some mechanical toys, etc., that he was allowed to take apart.

I will miss him when he moves out - he fixes everything for me.

Give your wee one an outlet for this wonderful new talent that's been discovered, and I think you'll find the batteries don't need changing nearly as often.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I have never heard of magical thinking, and I think that�s what DS is going through. Beside the battery example, he also blames other people for breaking his toys.

The airplane that Tallulah posted is so cool. Santa will sure bring this to DS.