Parenting Myths: The Lies We Tell Our Kids and Why We Do It

Telling your kids white lies to make something easier, more magical, or make them listen in general is typically not a harmful thing to do. In fact, it’s far more common than you might think. Whether it’s telling your kids about Santa Claus, the tooth fairy, or the bogeyman, there are many common little lies that we tell our kids with various intended outcomes. Today we’re exploring some lies that we tell our kids and the reasons behind why we do it. Ready? Let’s go.

1. If the Ice Cream Truck Music is Playing, They’ve Run Out of Ice Cream.

Those ice creams in the ice cream truck can run really expensive, especially if you’re taking care of more than one kid! You’d go broke quickly if you bought ice cream every time the truck came around. This little lie is a more gentle way of saying “no” without dealing with any negative behaviours. It’s something that even little kids can understand, that if the ice cream truck is playing music, then it means they’re all out of treats. Although, you may encounter a problem if your kids see other kids running to the ice cream truck and getting their ice cream!

2. If You Swallow Gum, It Will Stay In Your Tummy For Seven Years.

Swallowing your gum could be a major choking hazard, so this little white lie helps children not do that. They don’t want gum sitting inside them for the next seven years, reminding them of that one time they didn’t listen to the rules. This white lie typically makes children spit their gum out into the garbage instead of swallowing it.

3. Santa Claus Is Watching You.

Kids like magic and fantasy, and as parents, we like to create it for them. So, Santa watching them helps to keep the magic alive and make sure children are making choices that they wouldn’t mind Santa knowing about. 

4. Your Face Will Stay Like That If You Do That for Too Long.

Making funny faces is all a part of being a kid, but sometimes the funniness goes too far, and it just needs to stop. This one phrase will usually stop a kid dead in their tracks because they immediately think of life with that funny face they’ve made all the time. It’s funny for a few seconds but definitely not forever. 

5. You’ll Get Sick If You Don’t Put A Jacket On.

No one wants to get sick, and telling kids this is a great way to make sure they get dressed according to the weather. If they get sick, then they won’t be able to play outside or see their friends until they’re better, so this is a fantastic way to make them do something without actually telling them to do it. Telling your child to wear a jacket might result in a “no” or other argumentative behaviours. 

6. Your Toys Will Get Lonely if You Don’t Play With Them.

Telling your kids that their toys will get lonely if you don’t play with them is a gentle reminder that there are some toys that aren’t getting the same attention as others. Children, being empathetic little beings, don’t want toys to get lonely and will typically rush to play with them upon hearing this. If your child doesn’t have that reaction and doesn’t care that the toys will get lonely, it’s possible that they’ve outgrown them and it’s time to clean them out and give them to another little child.

7. You’ll Understand When You’re Older.

This lie is a gentle way of saying, “We’re not talking about that right now,” and most times it works. But, as someone who is older, there is plenty I still don’t understand!

8. If You Touch That, It Will Break.

Most of the time things don’t shatter from a single touch, but we tell our kids this lie to hopefully protect the breakables we do have. If a child thinks that they’re going to break something from touching it, the desire to touch it might all but leave, and they’ll just continue with what they were doing anyway. 

9. There’s No Wi-Fi Here.

A simple lie that’s told more often than not to make children get off their devices and play, or simply stop asking for their devices. Chances are, there is Wi-Fi because where isn’t there Wi-Fi these days? But answering that there’s no Wi-Fi here is less argumentative than “No, you’re not playing on your iPad right now.”. 

10. You Need to Eat Everything on Your Plate or You’ll Never Get Dessert Again.

This is a simple way to get your kid to eat their meal, and that’s why parents say it. Often children want to skip over their meal to get to the sweet stuff at the end, and this little white lie stops them in their tracks. 

11. If You Don’t Eat Your Veggies, You’ll Never Grow Big and Strong.

If you don’t eat your veggies, then you’ll never grow big and strong is a white lie that we tell our kids to make them eat their healthy foods. Children want to grow big and strong naturally and make their parents happy, so this lie typically will make them want to eat their vegetables. 

12. That’s the Last Time I’m Telling You.

It’s usually not the last. As parents, we often repeat ourselves a number of times before a child listens, and not because the child is “bad,” but rather they’re just children and need reminders.

Final Thoughts

There are several lies that parents tell their children, and for good reason too. It’s usually to make them do what it is in their best interest to do or to protect them from harm. However, it’s vital to strike a balance between guiding them and allowing them to learn from their own experiences, as this ultimately helps them develop critical thinking skills and independence.