I know its normal that children fib my DS is 9 and tells small lies, mostly to do with questions like have you done xyz, being lazy putting his stuff away etc.. He recetly lied about something that really made his DD very angry, he had a new bike and he promised to put it away in the shed and lock it every night, this he was doing and before it got dark I usually ask him have you rememberd to lock your bike away, yes is his reply. This time he said yes to both questions from his DD and in the morning he saw it in the garden, he has been grounded and he is not allowed to watch any cartoons or go on the computer or play with any of his toys, he has spoken to him and he knows why, 2 days after this when doing his homework where he had to look in a dictionary he was asked about the word and had he looked it up yes he said then admited he had not.
I know when I was his age I would fib same sort of thing really, but I think his punishment is too harsh its been about 3 weeks since he got found out, DD does not agree says he needs to learn and he has not learnt from previous fib punishments.
What do other parents do ?