Honesty can outshine lies

Children learn to be untruthful from their parents. Be a role model, says Helen O’Callaghan.

AT about age three, when children realise other people can’t see inside their heads they may start to tell lies.

Motives for fibbing are multiple — covering up so they won’t get in trouble, lying to get something they want (‘Mom always lets me have sweets before dinner’), looking for attention.