In December 2020, I was interviewed in the talkshow Studio Erasmus about lying in families. Should parents avoid lying to their child, because it is bad for their development? Or is “parenting by lying” something you can and should not avoid, because it might even be beneficial for your child?
In this interview, I talk about different types of lies that parents can tell their children and how important it is to take a nuanced view on lying, before we can thoroughly study the effects of lying on children. I also address the complex assignment for parents: although society often condemns lying, the reality is that many people tell a lie every once in a while. So what should you teach your child?
I plan to address these questions (and many others) in my Fami-LIES project in the next 5 years!
Fami