10 ways to know your child is lying

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10 ways to know your child is lying

March 26, 2014 |

March 26, 2014

by Leah Rocketto

It can be tricky for moms to tell whether their kids are telling tales or the truth. While we often wish we could break out a lie detector test à la Meet the Parents, that probably wouldn’t fly in certain circles.

Instead, here are some common signs your child might be lying from Today Health and MetroKids. If you notice your kids exhibiting more than a few of the following signs, it might be worth digging a bit deeper into their story!

1. Unusual Eye Contact

Young children who are lying often avoid eye contact. But as children get older and more savvy, they may overcompensate while lying and hold your gaze without looking away at all. As a result, both very little or very long eye contact may indicate untruthfulness.

2. Repetition

Another common sign of lying is repeating part of a question as part of a response. This is usually a way of stalling for more time to think of a story. For example, if you asked your child what they were doing with a friend after school, they might respond, “What was I doing with Matt after school? Well I was . . . ”

3. Touching the Face

Touching parts of the face — whether scratching an ear or touching the nose or head — may be signs your child isn’t telling the truth. Similarly, licking or biting the lips is another clue.

4. Inconsistencies

Inconsistencies in your child’s story are one of the surest signs that you’re not getting the real deal.

5. Defensive Reactions

A lying child will often overreact to your accusations, so be wary if her defense is a little too passionate.

6. Unusual Gestures

Is your child all of a sudden using gestures to tell a story or standing with her hands behind her back? Her unusual gestures or body position may indicate she’s telling a tale.

7. Blinking Changes

Your child’s eyes can give away her fib. Both blinking much more than usual or not blinking at all are signs that something is up.

8. Fidgeting

Do you see your child wringing her hands or squirming while telling her story? That’s another clue that she’s feeling uncomfortable because she’s not telling you the truth.

9. Rambling

Unless your child is typically extremely talkative, excited and rambling behavior is often a sign that she’s trying to make her story more believable by adding details.

10. Changed Tone or Speed of Speech

Long pauses, hesitation, or speaking in a lower voice are additional clues that a child is not telling the truth.

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