When is it OK to lie to our kids?

[spidermama]

Most of us perpetrate the big ones (Father Christmas and the Tooth Fairy).
But do you remember how you felt when you realised it was all a big porkie?

I think the truth is always best.

When it is for their own protection.

My parents always told us that the ice cream van was the paraffin van. I KNEW it sold ice creams but because my parents said it sold paraffin, I also knew that too. And was quite happy with believing both. Same went for Father Christmas and the tooth fairy. Remember checking under my pillow one morning for the money and the tooth was still there so I went into my Dad and said, very pointedly, 'DAD. The tooth fairy didn't come'. He got up and staggered out and I waited and sure enough, when I went back to my bedroom, there the money was. With my kids I will kind of go along with whatever they want to believe for as long as they want to believe it. Don't really see it as lying.
However, the one big lie I had to tell was yesterday when my daughter asked me about the terrorist attack. We live in London and she said would the naughty men ever come to get us. I said no, they never would, that Mummy and Daddy and the dog were there to protect her and that she would always be safe. But of course I knew that this was not true. But what can you say?

not telling the truth is lying. so fess up who lies to their kids bout the tooth fairy and father xmas.

i think lying when at all convenient to the running of your everyday life is the right thing

It's not only to lie to your kids, its necessary, otherwise they'd know lots of horrid sordid stuff.

They have to wait to find out that stuff till they're old enough to cope with it.

For example I don't tell dd about too many horrid things in the news and hide sensationalist headlines in the press from her.

"It's not only ok", I meant

I always tell my ds that the ride on things that they put in supermarkets aimed at small children only work if granny puts the money in.

cam, as ever fantastic

Today at the Metro Centre DS1, 4 yrs, asked why the people in the clothes shops (mannequins) stood still and I'm ashamed to say that I told him they were watching for naughty boys Well....he behaved himself after that....

I think lying in some cases is acceptable. No way when my 6yr old picks up a packet and asks 'What are these, mummy?' am I going to answer 'They're anti depressants, darling.'

They're grown up vitamin tablets

When I was little I asked my auntie what a virgin was and she said immediately, 'oh, it is a mythical horse, like a unicorn but with two horns.'