How to handle 10 yr old lying

[sobeda]

DD (10) is generally a bright happy girl who is doing very well at school, loads of friends and interests. Over the last year I've noticed her lying about small and often silly things, not in a malicious way, but to cut a corner or get out of a sticky situation or avoid people being cross with her. I always pull her up on it, and talk about the importance of trust and honesty. We had an incident at school yesterday which involved her lying about something much less small and silly, and maintaining her position for hours, before admitting she had been lying all along. Any opinions on how best to handle? Thank you

I have a 10 year old ds who is doing the same. Lying about little things and also getting his brother in to trouble. I came to the conclusion it's an age thing and as long as I can see through them I can live with it.

My 11-yeear-old is lying to get her sister and her friend into trouble. A fortnight ago, she cut the leg off her own bear in the hope that her sister would get the blame. I rumbled her, confronted her in a non-aggressive way, she owned up and we had tears and hugs, I sewed the leg back on and told her I wanted her to see the love in repairing the damage, not the bad thing she had done when she looked at the bear.
Now, I suspect, has posted a note under her friend's status on the school intranet. The message is all about how my daughter is bad news, every hates her and everyone should keep away from her. It's just tragic (a) that she would do this to her friend, who is now under investigation for cyber bullying and (b) that she would write something so awful about herself.
This has all been interspersed with countless small lies.
I am confused, upset, hurt, embarrassed and fearful for my daughter's happiness and mental health.

i also have a 10yo DD who will look me in the eye and lie continually, she looks like butter wouldn't melt whilst doing it!!!! It's almost laughable looking at her doing it becuase i know she's lying and she really thinks she's having me over. The other day we had this confrontation after church in the car (can't remember over what, something trivial) but it was the blatant lying. So i said when we get home she can go to her room and come back down after she has written about the importance of not lying and why she shouldn't do it. Screaming and banging and shouting enthused and a scrap of paper was thrown at me with " because no-one will believe you" written on it - that was it!!!! told her not good enough and to go back upstairs and re-think - more screaming etc and about an hour later i got a more in-depth responce. We spoke about her reasoning in the letter, explained that not acceptable and had a cuddle. She also now knows that should she do it again, she will be sent to her room for another written explanation (she HATES writing!!!!) is this bad?

Because IME they lie to get themselves out of a hole my strategy is that owning up earns a punishment, whereas lying about it gets a bigger punishment. Then there's a straight choice whether to be honest or not.... and mostly, he opts for honest.