Thread: Parents 'lie to children every day'

What lies do you tell your kids? What lies were you told?

"You'll go blind" Dad said. I haven't.



The average parent will tell their child almost 3,000 little white lies as they're growing up - just to get their own way.


Last Updated: 3:28PM BST 22 Oct 2008
Comments 6 | Comment on this article

A study of 3,000 parents found every day each mum or dad will tell at least one fib to get their offspring to comply with their wishes.
Among the classic white lies wheeled out in homes around the country are that Father Christmas only gives presents to good children, spinach gives you big muscles and sitting in front of the television for too long gives you square eyes.
Others include eating crusts puts hair on your chest and that the jingle of an ice cream van signifies that it has sold out of lollies and cornets.
The study also found that 66 per cent of parents were prepared to turn to a white lie if all else failed.
Kathryn Crawford, of The Baby Website, which commissioned the study, said: "The funny thing is that most of the little white lies we tell our own children are ones that our parents told us and chances are, they came from our grandparents too.
"So the fables get passed automatically from each generation to the next.
"We were somewhat surprised by the fact that one of the biggest white lies of all slipped through the net.
"That is the fact that every year, some drunk fat bloke in a red suit and false beard manages to get down a chimney or even a gas flue, complete with bicycles, wendy-houses and other large items, and completes a global distribution round, pulled by flying reindeer."
The most common lie - told by 84 per cent of parents - is that Father Christmas only gives presents to good little children.
Second was that Father Christmas only visits children who go to sleep nicely on Christmas Eve - used by eight in 10.
A further 60 per cent of adults have told their children that sitting too close to the television will make their eyes go square.
And forty eight per cent of parents have convinced their offspring that eating spinach will make them strong.
Another 39 per cent said they frequently told their children not to cross their eyes - as the wind will change and they'll stay like it.
A quarter of parents have told their little ones that their private parts will drop off if they play with them too much.
Whilst 20 per cent of kids have been warned that the police will arrest them if they swear.
Interestingly, the majority of parents polled agreed their children pretty much stopped believing everything they were told by their eighth birthday.
But the study found until that point, youngsters absorb everything mum and dad say, repeating it to teachers, friends and even family members.
Eight in 10 parents said they often told little white lies to their kids to protect them from the truth, whilst 46 per cent made lies up if they didn't know the real answer to a question.




http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...tthat/3240287/
Parents-lie-to-children-every-day.html

sitting too close to the television will make their eyes go square.

eating spinach will make them strong.

define a white lie , is it a good or bad thing ?

Originally Posted by Mid

define a white lie , is it a good or bad thing ?

White lie A white lie would cause no discord if it were uncovered, and offers some benefit to the liar, the hearer, or both. White lies are often used to avoid offense, such as telling someone that you think that their new outfit looks good, when you actually think that it is a horrible excuse for an outfit. In this case, the lie is told to avoid the harmful realistic implications of the truth. As a concept, it is largely defined by local custom and cannot be clearly separated from other lies with any authority. As such, the term may have differing meanings in different cultures. Lies which are harmless (but told for no reason) are generally called white lies. Lie - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A white lie would cause no discord if it were uncovered, and offers some benefit to the liar,

sounds as though it maybe a valid form of parenting ?

Originally Posted by Mid

sitting too close to the television will make their eyes go square.

eating spinach will make them strong.

define a white lie , is it a good or bad thing ?

It's a fine line, but usually when it is to protect somebody from getting unnecessary hurt or troubled it can be justifiable, I normally don't agree with lying but there are situations where slamming the naked truth bang smack to somebody is unkind and serves no sensible gain or purpose.

But handing out a "white" lie just for the sake of saying something can more often than not be avoided by keeping silent.

But when your wife asks "do these pants make my ass look big?" what will you reply.
1: pretend you didn't hear and go back to reading your newspaper.
2: "Compared to what?"
3: "sure do"
4: "No dear"

Hey, my parents told me most of those widdle white lies, which have been repeated down the generations.

And i am still alive and kicking. So no harm done, in my opinion.

Treat your kids as 'little people' or 'small adults' & you won't need to lie to them... They are most definitely not stupid.

Most sexpats in Thailand lie to themselves every day.

Originally Posted by watterinja

Treat your kids as 'little people' or 'small adults' & you won't need to lie to them... They are most definitely not stupid.

I disagree. There are times when kids need protection from "ugly" realities. Time enough for them to learn the real deal when they have the maturity to cope with it.

So, does the Santa lie do anything for the kids? Or is it just to satisfy the parents?

Originally Posted by English Noodles

Most sexpats in Thailand lie to themselves every day.

How does this contribute, in any way, to the thread?

^ Thanks for that. Goodnight.

Sorry, 4th toddy and strong ones.

Originally Posted by The Gentleman Scamp

Sorry, 4th toddy and strong ones.

No worries. What lies were you told as a child?

That when I grew up I would have a thick head of silver hair like my father.

That the moons made of cheese although I cant confirm it.

Originally Posted by The Gentleman Scamp

That when I grew up I would have a thick head of silver hair like my father.

That's it?

And all you've got is the thick head bit....

Originally Posted by The Gentleman Scamp

That when I grew up I would have a thick head of silver hair like my father.

So have you grown up with a clever head of dark hair?

My parents even had the audacity to take me haggis hunting in Scotland, and tell me I had just missed one when I wasn't paying attention... Bang out of order.

I don't believe you.........

You do believe me, you just want to keep your stupid thread at the top of the lounge.

Strangely...... you're wrong. But don't let it get you down.