To want to know which of my children is lying

[Peopletry]

I’ve been looking for my kindle for a few days.
Yesterday I Asked dd if she’d seen it and she said no.
Today I asked ds if he’d seen it and he said he thought he’d seen dd hide it under her bed.
I went looking for it again in dd’s room and as I got closer to her bed asked her casually again if she’d seen it.
She then tells me she thinks she remembers seeing it on the end of her bed. After some searching I find it well under the bed.
She then told me that ds had brought it in.

Obviously my biggest issue is why either of them would hide it and lie in the first place but I kind of need to establish what’s happened without falsely accusing one of them.
If ds js telling the truth and dd hid it, ds must have seen her do it and didn’t say anything at the time.
If ds hid it then it’s feasible that dd didn’t see the actual hiding but did see him bring it in and have it near the end of her bed.

I’m really disappointed that one of them a. hid it and b. Is trying to get the other one in trouble.

I really don’t think they took it to use it-there are loads of other devices they could use.
I’m actually a bit impressed that they’ve collaborated for once even if against me! They are usually bickering and trying to get one up on the other one.

I think we are all addicted too our IT equipment.
Could you just tell them that they got you.
Set aside time to play board games or walks.
They just want to be your sole object of interest.
Also remember people should be careful what they wish for.
Doing the bedrooms maybe, or going somewhere you want to go.
After all your now allowed to say, this is what you wanted to the kids,

The kids are bored at the moment. I’d let this one go tbh! If you’re worried about it becoming a pattern, just say they will both lose screen time if it gets hidden again.

Ah well done @Peopletry - that's as happy an ending as you could hope for.

Obviously your dc both feel you need to get off your phone a bit and collaborated to make the point. That's pretty good going for a pair of siblings and I guess quite significant. I agree that in return for their honesty about the Kindle you probably need to 'reward' them with a chat about reducing your own screen time and spending time with them.

You'll never really know just tell them not to hide other people's things and move on....

@Fredericasbarnacle

How old are your DC?

Even quite young DC can be asked to come to the table for a "serious" calm conversation. Just ask them quietly and say no one is leaving the table until they tell the truth. No need to be unpleasant, just quietly stick to your guns. It will get so boring after a while one of them will crack

I agree. Sit at the table until one confesses.

They may have purposely done it. My kids do that!! It can be not nice. As first I thought I was going crazy! I'll be sure I left my phone in a certain place, I'll be looking for it everywhere and then find it inside a drawer, under my pillow just random places where am certain I didn't put it there, but would just tell myself I must've done so and forgotten!

Then one day I 10000% knew exactly where my phone was, except it wasn't there and then my child takes it out, laughing hysterically, turns out this is what they've been doing all along!! I just thought I was going crazy!! It wasn't just the phone, they'd do it with the remote, iPad even a pen! They found it funny, when I would look for it. It got to a point where it started driving me mad, had to properly tell them off! They no longer do it, just on the odd occasion my younger one will, but will immediately take it out when I ask.
Btw it's not just with me, they do this to their dad too, hide his wallet, phone keys

@SqeakyHindge

someone said easier to train. Fgs they kids not puppies.

It was a kindle it be different if was bottle of wine.

Chill read a book

It was me that said that. Use another word then, teach if you like.

The fact is that it is far easier to get a 7 year old to understand that actions have consequences and that lying/stealing etc will lead to a punishment (as it should) than trying to stop your teenager nicking cash or whatever from you because you have always let the small stuff go unchecked.

Where do you think Generation Entitled came from? Never being told off, thats where!

If you read the update, it was quiet a shock.
Both children did it and confessed.
OP was shocked they cooperated to steal it as they think she uses her phone too much and knew they couldn't remove the phone.
They just love their mum and want to spend time with her.