How do you explain cheating to young kids?

[HappyHelper123]

Just that really. Thread I read got me thinking.

You don’t?

If you agree to play based on a set of rules and then sneakily break them you aren’t really playing that game at all.

Like cheating in games? Simple, explain the rules and when they cheat explain that it is cheating and not allowed

If you mean sexual infidelity, you don’t.

Why?

Oh I see. Yeah OP you need to clarify

How old are the children?
Do they really need to know?
If they are pre teen I don't think I would tell them.

Cheating as in exam or board games? Follow rules, ensures fair and everyone has turn.

Weird not to 😆
They will encounter cheating to some extent early in lives. Game playing for example. Definitely by school age. Depends on the context of cheating that the OP is asking about, that would determine he age appropriate explanation that goes with it.

Board game- not following the rules to help them win, in a way that's not fair to the other players

Relationship - breaking a promise that you made when you got married that you'd be each others best friends

I assumed the OP was talking about cheating in relationships, not board games. I assumed most children already understand how to cheat in board games. Apologies if I was wrong.
In terms of cheating in relationships, I wouldn’t explain it to very young children.

Sexual infidelity? You don’t. When they’re older they’ll probably put 2 and 2 together but they do not need to hear the ins and outs of adult relationship break ups because the best thing for them is to have a decent relationship with both parents. Even if one parent is a lying, cheating shitbag!
You swallow your pride, you don’t bad mouth the other parent and you try to get on with it.

If you’re talking about in games or in tests - that’s easy. Losers cheat. And no-one wants to play with cheats.

I don't think you have to tell kids everything. Whatever you say needs to be age appropriate.

My SIL was cheating. I told my kids that Aunty X wasn't playing nicely and Uncle Y decided not to play with her anymore because she wasn't being kind.

I reminded them that they don't have to play with or be friend with people who aren't using kind words, kind hands or that hurt their feelings.

They didn't mention her again. She was in their lives since birth.

According to research - this approach is wrong. Keeping things from children only raises their anxiety levels. Yes, you do not have to describe the action great detail but children should be told the truth.

In the context of relationships and cheating, surely you'd have to explain to some extent particularly if the cheating partner leaves or moves out though, wouldn't you?

We really need some clarity here, @HappyHelper123.

If you’re talking about sexual infidelity, my kids learned about it through Greek mythology, weirdly enough.

You don't. You leave them out of it. They don't need to be burdened with adult crap.

How old though? 3? 4?

I’d say that the relationship had broken down, in an age appropriate way. I wouldn’t tell a young child that their father had cheated, no. Maybe when they’re a bit older and more able to deal with the information.

You don’t. Young children should be protected from the sordid details of their parents’ relationship ship breakdown.

Good point. Those gods were at it like knives. 😀

I didn’t, I just told them we weren’t happy anymore. They guessed when they hit teen years anyway and frankly I am glad. Secrets in the family are no good.

If there’s really an explanation needed I’d simply say that someone broke an important promise.

A much more useful response than your initial one on this thread.