I've just found out my child in grade 1 has been lying MAJORLY. He concocted a massive story about being verbally & physically bullied & this bullying story came out through a counseling session. Of course I kept him home until I could have a meeting with the teachers, he named 2 kids, action is being taken to stop the bullying. He's now admitted he was lying & only told that story because he wanted to stay home for a few days because school is boring. I don't know what to do from here. What do I tell the school? Do I make him apologise? How do I punish appropriately for his age? I feel so upset & angry, I don't understand why he'd lie & I'm just so disappointed.
5 Replies
Oh dear, too smart!
Ok you tell the school the truth, absolutely everything! You tell them that he is 'bored' at school. You tell them absolutely everything.
Then you talk to your son about the consequences of lying (the story of the boy who cried wolf, might guide you). You also talk to your boy about how He would feel if he got in trouble for something he didn't do, like the kids he falsely accused.
Appropriate punishment is having to do the school work he missed. So he learns that wether he goes to school or not, he still has to do the work.
If we played sick to stay home, my mum made us do housework and write out our times tables, do spelling words etc until school finished. Made school WAY more appealing and we stopped playing sick lol
I would be immediately making your child admit to the school his lies and then figure out WHY he is lying. That isn't just a small little white lie. This is major.
I'd be seeing a counsellor at minimum. One of my family members is a chronic liar and it has become horrible. She started out just like this.
Naw I think he's lying about it being a lie....
See if these other kids deny it all, and is it totally out of character for them? Is your boy known for telling tall tales? Is he likely a target for bullies?
Investigate further before reacting
I did something similar when I was his age
Be careful with punishment, I said it was because I was bored. I wasn't, there was something else going on and I wanted to see my grandmas reaction to if she would protect me
There could be more to this story that your son isn't telling you .... it could be that he's scared that because he told the bullying could get worse ?
Or it could be that now he's telling the truth . I'd be seriously talking to him about lying and how it can get us into more trouble , I think someone else mentioned the boy who cried wolf !! I'd also check that he really understands what lying is .. id do this before talking to the school again - check with him which story he told really was the truth and go from there .