DD becoming kleptomaniac and compulsive liar!

[fruitcorner]

Slight exaggeration, but DD, who is 7, has been getting into trouble at school and with friends for taking things and also for fibbing about things. I've obviously spoken to her about this but she always has a story about what happens and has never admitted taking anything or not telling the truth and gets very upset...I've emphasised to her that she'll never get into trouble for telling truth and sometimes we make mistakes and we all find it difficult to admit mistakes etc. anyone else been through this or have any tips as to how to deal?

I'm watching as I have one too! Third child, and no-one else felt inclined to steal or lie in the way that she does.

She will lie when the truth is staring her in the face, at school and at home, and I really don't get why she would....

She was caught slipping another child a tenner in the playground that she had obviously taken from home, and said the girl had asked her for it (but it's likely that wasn't true either).

I will watch with interest

Hopeful Bump!

I'm afraid that at times like this only a good old fashioned thrashing with a belt will do the job. Or a chain. One of the two, depends which comes to hand first.

There are times when harshness is good for them, I am afraid.

DSS2 (6) had a phase last year - start of this year of telling fibs and taking things from his brother's (13) room. If we hadn't dealt with it, the 13 y/o would have for some of them!! Depending on the circumstances, it's been a telling off, sending to his room or an old fashioned smack (the smack was for going into his brother's room without permission, taking toys from his brother's room and lying about it repeatedly when asked why he had his brother's toys). There's been no repeats since January when he took his brother's Xmas chocolates without asking - his brother had forgotten about them until we asked where they'd gone (that was a sending to the room).

General opinion of other parents I've spoken to (mainly work colleagues) is that it's a phase that most children go through about this age. Deal with it, make sure they know it's wrong and ride it out.