Everyone has been lied to at some point in their life whether it is by a teacher, friend, parent, peer or significant other. Lying is typically viewed as something negative and it is known for being morally wrong, however, lying is not always negative. In today’s society, there are many traditions of legendary figures such as Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and many others. These traditions are all small white lies told to kids to create a fun experience growing up. Some parents also find it easier to lie to their children when it comes to financial issues. Having your kids worry about the amount of money you have should be the last of their worries when growing up, most kids are too young to even understand it in the first place.
Every parent wants to keep their child young and innocent for as long as they possibly can. Fun white lies like Santa are only told for the sole purpose of cheering up your kids and allowing them to have something entertaining to look forward to. Lying to kids about Santa should be seen as a fun make-believe game, not a drastic lie told to kids. Children need a certain age of innocence in their lives to properly grow and mature. During this time kids slowly start developing trust and awareness about the world. As stated in Center Montessori School, it is important to shelter kids from real-world struggles till they come of an appropriate age where they can comprehend what’s really going on.
“It [believing in Santa] was something that was fun for them,” upper school dean of academics and parent Angela Croston said. “It’s kind of a tradition in America. I feel like once they realized that it was a lie they understood that it was all in fun to help celebrate Christmas. So not necessarily as a lie, considering it as a lie but more of just a fun make believe thing to do. That’s the way I looked at it. They found out on their own in different ways.”
In addition, most young kids do not understand the concept of a dollar. So, lots of parents find it easier to keep financial issues hidden from younger kids simply because they do not understand or they do not want them to start acting differently. Kids should be kids, they should not have to grow up worried about the amount of money they are spending on school lunches to feed themselves. According to Fiance Buzz, kids typically learn and react to money and other financial foundations based on the way they see their parents react to them growing up or the way they are taught. Unless you feel particularly confident in your abilities, to be honest with your children about your family’s financial issues many experts recommend it.
On the other hand, some parents argue that lying to your kids teaches them to lie in return. There are some lies that are deeper than others however lying to kids is not always bad. You are not causing your kids any harm by not telling them the truth. Most parents should wait for the right time when children come of age so that they can process the information better.
Overall the motive for parents lying to kids is usually positive. No parent ever wants to lie to their kids for no given reason, most feel it is what’s best for them. At young ages, kids are just starting to grow a new sense of awareness for the world around them. Bombarding them with harsh truths at a young age is difficult for them to process which makes it understandable as to why some parents choose to lie.
