7yr old lying

[TinnedPearsForPudding]

Just after some advice please. I have an only child a 7yr old boy. He is (usually) very well behaved and polite. I would say he is actually empathetic and very aware of other people and how other people might feel in a given situation.
He has started lying recently, nothing major - cheating at a board game, taking 2 biscuits instead of 1 and saying he has washed in the bath when he hasn't. If I challenge him, he admits it immediately & apologises.
Is this "just a phase", might it be related to the disruption (schools closed etc). Any advice gratefully received

It's normal for all children (and adults) to tell white lies. My dc8 tells porkies sometimes but unless it's serious I make a joke of it like- 'well we must have mice if you didn't take that extra biscuit' and she knows that I know she's lying, then I give a natural consequence like that's tomorrows biscuit etc. Tbh I'm surprised that your child's only started this now, most children master the art of lying by about 3!

Reassured to hear that this is normal. I know he was telling lies before this but I admit I have been perhaps slightly naive!!

Anyone else?

Nearly all children lie - often not even about important stuff. My ds who has aspergers didn't lie till he was in his early teens and I was really pleased when he was finally able to, life is tricky for people who can't tell white lies.

Think about when you were a child. Didn't you do the same? All the example of lies your dc told you sounds very normal for any child at that age.

When I was about 11, I spilt wax all over my mums favourite jumper being careless with a candle making kit. I stuffed it at the bottom of the bin. She kept asking if I'd seen it I said no. 34 years later I still haven't come clean! She mentions it every so often 😳