Khaberni - Psychologist Tatiana Vasilkova explained that children and teenagers often resort to lying due to their desire to achieve what they want or their attempts to avoid upsetting their parents.
She pointed out that a child might start lying for the first time when one of their desires is denied.
She added that when a child is firmly clinging to what they want and not ready to give it up easily, they may resort to lying as a means to achieve their goal. This behavior often stems from persistence and ambition to fulfill a dream, even if it means breaking the rules set by the parents.
Vasilkova believes that in such cases, lying becomes an option that the child resorts to in order not to give up their desires. To reduce lying among teenagers, she emphasized the importance of finding a balance between firmness and leniency in upbringing, explaining that some situations require adherence to rules, while others require listening to and understanding the child’s perspective. She also noted that teenagers might sometimes conceal the truth out of concern for their parents' feelings, believing that honesty might cause them disappointment or stress.
She clarified that children might learn to lie from their family environment, as seeing their parents lie to each other may encourage a teenager to imitate this behavior. In such cases, the specialist advises against scolding the child, but rather trying to understand the reasons that made them lose trust in adults.
Meanwhile, psychologist Irina Ryabkova noted that a child or teenager spending a lot of time on the phone is not always driven by entertainment or interest in games and social media, but may reflect internal stress, depression, or other psychological issues that require attention and support.
