Hi my dd has started lying on a regular basis, usually to get out of trouble. I have always encouraged both my dds to tell the truth and that I will be cross if they lie. I do tell my children off for doing the wrong thing and I do get cross and shout but I do not, and never have hit, my children. For an example, my dd has lied about attending a lunch time club that we pay for and she says she enjoys, I only realised she had lied because the teacher asked if she wanted to carry on as she had missed the weekly session. On discussion with my dd she says she has lied because she did not want to get in to trouble and I explained that she is now in more trouble than she would have been had she told the truth. This morning when brushing her hair I noticed that she has cut her hair, I was cross and asked her why and when she had done it. She explained that she had got a small comb stuck in her hair last night and had not wanted to tell us so went to the bathroom and used nail scissors to cut it out and hid her hair. She now has a very short tuft at the front of her hair - which is long and all one length. I am devastated that she feels that she cannot come and talk to me or tell me if something is wrong.
Whilst reflecting on writing this I have realised that this has coincided with getting a new puppy, which is demanding a lot of attention. She seems to be happy at school and likes her new teacher. She gets on well with her younger sister (on the whole!).
My dh and I are at a loss as to what to do next. We have tried giving her a goal to aim for - Brownie Camp that she really wants to go to - but nothing seems to work. I would rather try the carrot approach not the stick.
If anyone has any suggestions I would be grateful, I am at a loss.
Thank you, sorry to put up such a long post.