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Fess up: what fibs do you tell your children? - £200 voucher to be won.

185 replies

EllieSmumsnet · 20/11/2023 10:03

What fibs do you tell your children to make parenting a little bit easier? From saying carrots help you see in the dark, to pretending the ice cream van has run out when the music plays – three-quarters of parents admit they tell little white lies to their children.

But with criminals becoming increasingly sophisticated, it’s more difficult to spot when someone’s telling you a big lie. In the run up to Christmas, fraudsters will try to trick you with “too good to be true” deals on products that never materialise. One in four parents have been tricked by a purchase scam, so don’t get caught out this festive season!

  • Share your family fibs in the thread below to be entered into a prize draw.
  • One lucky winner will win a £200 voucher for a store of their choice.

Here is what the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign has to say:

“Stay alert to criminals targeting you with purchase scams. Only 26% of parents always research a new retailer before making a purchase, but doing your homework this Christmas season could help protect you from scammers.

Use secure payment methods recommended by reputable retailers and be wary of bank transfers. Pay by credit card for purchases over £100 if you can.

Shop savvy in the lead up to Christmas, find out more about protecting yourself from purchase scams at: www.takefive-stopfraud.org.uk

Take Five - To Stop Fraud | To Stop Fraud

Take Five offers straight-forward and impartial advice to help everyone in the UK protect themselves against financial fraud.

https://www.takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/

OP posts:
Newgolddream70 · 13/12/2023 18:58

I told DS that McDonald's was shut because they'd had a gas leak. First thing that came into my head!

Nurseybear · 13/12/2023 19:59

That if you use a nappy rather than the toilet, your poo will get lonely cos it will go in the bin, rather than go on its journey to see its friends in pooland. Pooland is a wonderful place according to my son!!

CLOCK1914 · 13/12/2023 20:27

If you eat your greens you will be strong like popeye and if you eat your sweet corn you will be like green giant

Amenhotep · 13/12/2023 20:36

That the music played by the ice cream van is really the window cleaner!

Fisu · 13/12/2023 22:21

You only get chips on holiday..unfortunately it only worked for a few years before the kids realised that chips don’t only exist in Spain!

HouseholdBubblesandEeeeek · 13/12/2023 22:54

We’ve run out of chocolate!

CentrifugalBumblePuppy · 14/12/2023 04:42

The CCTV in shops (especially the old style black dome ones)?

That’s Father Christmas, making sure you’re not being naughty.

ohdannyboy · 14/12/2023 19:27

No your goldfish didn't die - (floating on the top - it's just sleeping) next day a new goldfish replaced the 'sleeping' one.

Ukrainebaby23 · 15/12/2023 02:58

Daddy works at the bean factory.

MrsDouglas · 16/12/2023 00:37

I told my children that orange smarties were poisonous and they would bring me all of their orange smarties "for sake keeping". I got away with it for years......

Will I go to hell 🤔

pushchairprincess · 17/12/2023 07:18

Sprouts are baby cabbages, broccoli are mini trees - seemed to want to try them.

orangegato · 17/12/2023 09:27

Not me but a friend, the ice cream van only plays the music when they’ve run out! Scandalous.

AmazingDisgrace · 18/12/2023 04:09

13yr old daughter got her phone confiscated at school for using it in class. Absolutely fair enough.

She swore blind she hadn't.

DH faked up a letter from her phone provider showing dates and times she had used data and highlighted all the times it was during classtimes.

She completely fell for it. We fessed up when she was about 20.

JacCharlton · 19/12/2023 14:36

I can tell you are lying because your nose is growing - they immediately touched their noses - busted !!

OnMyHamptonWick · 19/12/2023 14:38

Only Santa, tooth fairy, elf on the shelf.

MaddyMumsnet · 19/12/2023 16:14

The winner of the £200 voucher is @lillypopdaisyduke ! Congrats 🎉

TooTiredToType77 · 19/12/2023 16:43

Nutella is only sold in Italy - we managed to keep this going for some years...😂

scalt · 19/12/2023 22:12

When DD went through a phase of wanting to wear trainers without socks, I told that her toes might vanish inside them. (Sandals without socks were OK, because she could see her toes.) She was determined to test this out, and kept on going sockless when I wasn't looking, so I had to move on to warning her about blisters and smelly feet instead. This didn't deter her either. In the end I insisted on socks for school, and for trying on shoes in shops, but I picked my battles for other times.

SuzanneDavis · 27/12/2023 10:49

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SoupDragon · 27/12/2023 11:13

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So you do lie to your children. 🙄

Laney79 · 29/12/2023 07:26

I tell my three year old that if he tells lies the fibbing pixie will come in the night and take away one of his toys....feel a bit mean but it's really helped keep him honest!

scalt · 29/12/2023 08:38

Laney79 · 29/12/2023 07:26

I tell my three year old that if he tells lies the fibbing pixie will come in the night and take away one of his toys....feel a bit mean but it's really helped keep him honest!

It's a ironic when the fib told to children is about consequences of fibbing. 😛

Laney79 · 29/12/2023 08:40

@scalt not lost on me! #badmama

MissIvy99 · 30/12/2023 00:41

All TVs turn off at night time (every TV in the world), because it's bed time. 😅

cleowasmycat · 30/12/2023 00:47

The orange nightlight was an anti-monster light and stopped nightmares. Worked every time!!