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

[EllieSmumsnet]

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”

When the ice cream van plays the tune, they have run out of sweets!

I remember being told that if I went barefoot near the fire, I'd get my feet burnt off, like Pinocchio.

We call lasagne "layer pie" as the kids once refused to eat lasagne so the next time I cooked it, I said it wasn't lasagne but it was layer pie. That was years ago and the name has stuck.

Leeks are green onions! No idea how we ever persuaded him!

I used to lie about NYE, tell him it was later as he was desperate to stay up. Now he just accepts he’s not making it to midnight.

I tell my daughter My favourite chocolate is spicy, or if I don’t have the money , I say “ that’s the spicy version” . Also that iron Bru is alcohol and come are alcohol. She now starting to read , so don’t think I get away with much longer . I say it’s midnight when it’s only 8pm to get her in bed. Don’t think she falling for that much longer either 🙄

When she was younger (now 24) we told our DD that the oven fries and southern fried chicken or chicken nuggets that I had just cooked had been delivered by a well known fast food chain, before deliveries were available. We once told her that our rabbit didn't come home from the vet because he was too poorly for us to look after so the vet is taking him home because she has more experience of looking after poorly animals.

We tell them that sunbeams that shine through clouds are how fairies travel

I convinced my daughter that the lift in the old pub we stayed in was Tudor . she was 18 at the time🤣

Carrots make your eyes work better