Why Do Adults Lie To Kids?

[Workno]

Why do adults lie to little kids and toddlers? people will say that when they play fight with their little kid or toddler, they are incredibly strong and put up a really good fight against the adult, they will even complement their child on this and see things like “I wouldn’t want to mess with you”. why are they lying to their kid?  Are they actually strong?  if an adult was actually putting in 100% effort and it was a fight how good of a chance does the child have? I have noticed this with any activity really, whether that be a race, a game, or roughhousing. Why do adults lie to toddlers this way?

I’m talking about little kids like in lower elementary school or preschool, Do you play fight or rough house with your kids? Would they put up a good fight? If not, why do we straight up lie to them? 

[Canary42]

Not to mention the Father Christmas lies.

[Workno]

Mark, I wasn't meaning lying to them about Santa Claus, the Easter bunny, tooth fairy, etc. I am meaning what I said in the post originally, even with other activities why would a parent want to lie to their kid?

[Workno]

Does anyone eles know why this I do not get it.

[newmodarmy]

The clue is in the term playfight.

You clearly wouldn't want to badly hurt a toddler but would easily be able to do so in a real fight.

I notice Sarah has started posting from US again this week with her 17 inch 6 year old. Children have to be handled with care but allowed to play and explore. Maybe she'll see this as on some previous posts of yours and tell you to look at things from the child's perspective

[johnk]

To give them confidence, if they lose at everything all the time they'd be unhappy they're just kids.

It's also relavent to their age, they maybe strong for 6.

It might be a good idea for you never to have a child if you can't see the answer to your question

[Old_Geezer]

Yeah be straight up, tell them they're garbage to boost their self esteem. And knock their block off while you're at it. That'll learn 'em.

[david small]

Lol, Old-Geezer...In answer to the post. To encourage the little ones. Giving them confidence to attempt things that they would otherwise shy away from. To believe in themselves. It doesn’t always work though.

[TwoShortPlanks]

For the same reason all humans lie to each other. To boost confidence, to be kind, to avoid unpleasant situations. 

If we all started to be completely honest with each other at all times, many of us would be hiding under the bed, sobbing. 

[andy-hughes]

I can't really add anything to the previous answers.

You can't offer adult reasoning to children, it doesn't work.

You have to make things very simple, because that's the level on which children's minds work.

It's not 'lying' to them in the adult sense, it is making appropriate adjustments to help them to develop an understanding of the world around them.

[ToraToraTora]

another moronic question, like why is a kid worried about 200lb mastiff? Perlease you must be on a wind up.

[vulcan42]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is children are a lot more intelligent and intuitive than they are given credit for. They know they couldn't beat up an adult and they play along with the deception.

[Workno]

If kids are more intelligent than we give them credit for, why do we lie to them and see things like "wow you're so strong" or "that bad guy doesn't stand a chance"? The parent lies to the Child in having them believe that they are incredibly strong, way stronger than their opponent

[newmodarmy]

It's about having fun. Playing. Interacting. Involving them. Not humiliating them by overpowering or beating them. You must have been a child once?

[Canary42]

Vulcan has hit the spot.  Kids love pretence which is why they find fairy tales so endearing.

[Workno]

so that means lying to them about how so incredibly strong they are And giving them false confidence is OK? You are both showing them and telling them

[newmodarmy]

See our previous answers.