What do you do if you suspect your child of telling lies?

[roisin]

The NintendoDS is missing, an I suspect ds2 (8) of hiding it, breaking it or even possibly throwing it away.

I am only 90% suspicious, so don't want to go over the top with threats, as my suspicions may be unfounded.

Any ideas what I can do to get him to take the opportunity to confess?

Stay calm, pretend you are not bothered, and he might open up. Or is it too late for that?

Say you will happily start saving for a new one when you know what happened to the old one.

Of course, you shouldn't mention that you intend to start saving 1p a week.

I always tell my children I know when they are lying and that when I get proof they'll be in Big Trouble if they haven't told me the truth.
Send them upstairs with the option of thinking it over, give them five minutes consequence free.
Ask them again.

Hmm... He says he thought about hiding the DS, but he couldn't find it when he went to look for it to hide it!

He says he has looked in all the places that he might have hidden it.

I just don't know what to think!

Anyway we're off on hols now. Thanks for your input ladies.