78: Why Your Child Lies (and How All The Parenting Advice We Get Is WRONG!!)

03/10/25 • 30 min

Emotionally Intelligent Parenting with Stephanie Pinto

🚨 Your child just lied. STOP. Ignore all the advice you’ve ever been given! 🚨

Have you ever caught your child in a lie and thought, “Why would they lie about something so small??” Or maybe you worry about your teen lying about the big stuff, vaping, sneaking out, or who they’re really with at night? You’re not alone.

Here’s the truth (lol, pun intended): Lying isn’t just a ‘kid problem’, it’s human nature.

You’ve done it, I’ve done it, we all have. But the way we react when our kids lie will shape their honesty for life. And spoiler alert: Most of us are doing it wrong.

In this episode, I’m breaking down:

✅ The real reasons kids lie (hint: fear, shame, and disappointment play a huge role!)

✅ What NOT to do when you catch your child lying (you can totally avoid these common mistakes)

✅ How to actually build a home where honesty feels safe, not scary 🩷

Because let’s be real. Your child WILL mess up. It’s inevitable. The question is: Will they trust you enough to tell you the truth?

It's a solo one today, you've just got me 😉 Enjoy!

***

If this resonates with you, I'd love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] and send me your thoughts, feedback or questions!

Have you joined my Facebook Group for parents? There are over 130,000 parents in the community! 🎉

➡️ www.facebook.com/groups/letsraiseemotionallyintelligentkids

Hi! I am an Emotional Intelligence best-selling author, award-winning coach and international speaker. I'm also a paediatric anxiety therapist (and previous speech language pathologist!) and I love helping people use emotional intelligence to become calmer, more connected and live happier lives!

Book a consult with me to discuss coaching, support, collaborations or speaking engagements.

💡 Head to www.stephaniepinto.com

Or stalk me on the socials...

Insta: www.instagram.com/emotionally.intelligent.parent

FB: fb.com/stephpinto

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🚨 Your child just lied. STOP. Ignore all the advice you’ve ever been given! 🚨

Here’s the truth (lol, pun intended): Lying isn’t just a ‘kid problem’, it’s human nature.

You’ve done it, I’ve done it, we all have. But the way we react when our kids lie will shape their honesty for life. And spoiler alert: Most of us are doing it wrong.

In this episode, I’m breaking down:

✅ The real reasons kids lie (hint: fear, shame, and disappointment play a huge role!)

✅ What NOT to do when you catch your child lying (you can totally avoid these common mistakes)

✅ How to actually build a home where honesty feels safe, not scary 🩷

Because let’s be real. Your child WILL mess up. It’s inevitable. The question is: Will they trust you enough to tell you the truth?

It's a solo one today, you've just got me 😉 Enjoy!

***

If this resonates with you, I'd love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] and send me your thoughts, feedback or questions!

Have you joined my Facebook Group for parents? There are over 130,000 parents in the community! 🎉

➡️ www.facebook.com/groups/letsraiseemotionallyintelligentkids

Book a consult with me to discuss coaching, support, collaborations or speaking engagements.

💡 Head to www.stephaniepinto.com

Or stalk me on the socials...

Insta: www.instagram.com/emotionally.intelligent.parent

FB: fb.com/stephpinto

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

77: Parenting Neurodivergent Kids Without Punishment or Power Struggles with Marissa Taylor

This week, I’m joined by the incredible Marissa Taylor, an Aussie, a passionate advocate for neurodivergent children and a mum to five neurodivergent kiddos.

She shares how emotional intelligence has completely changed her parenting and why so many neurodivergent children are being missed, dismissed, or even punished in schools - simply for being themselves.

We also dive into:

✨ The lens shift parents and teachers need to truly support neurodivergent kids (hello, Dr. Ross Greene!)

✨ Why the mainstream school system often fails kids emotionally and academically

✨ Why so many parents are turning to homeschooling (and whether it might be right for you)

✨ PDA: Pathological Demand Avoidance (or Persistent Drive for Autonomy!), what it is and how to parent a PDA kiddo

✨ How Marissa courageously navigates burnout as an ND family - such profound message in there.

This episode is packed with insights, eye-openers, and of course emotional intelligence at the heart of it all. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or just someone who wants to understand neurodiversity better, you neeeed this conversation in your life.

💡 Ready to rethink what’s possible for your child? Let's go.

Connect with Marissa here:

PDA Home Education AU: https://pdahomeedau.com/

***

If this resonates with you, I'd love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] and send me your thoughts, feedback or questions!

Have you joined my Facebook Group for parents? There are over 130,000 parents in the community! 🎉

➡️ www.facebook.com/groups/letsraiseemotionallyintelligentkids

Book a consult with me to discuss coaching, support, collaborations or speaking engagements.

💡 Head to www.stephaniepinto.com

Or stalk me on the socials...

Insta: www.instagram.com/emotionally.intelligent.parent

FB: fb.com/stephpinto

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

79: Your Kid Isn’t the Problem - The Power Struggle Is Sabotaging Your Parenting with Vivek Patel.

What if parenting didn’t have to be a battle of wills? And wouldn't it be nice to welcome your child's "no!" instead of it igniting a power struggle?! I feel you.

Today on the Emotionally Intelligent Parenting Podcast, I sit down with Vivek Patel, founder of Meaningful Ideas, to explore what some call a radical yet deeply effective approach—Noncoercive Collaborative Parenting.

Vivek shares why kids resist us more when they trust us less - and how the common fallback to coercion damages that trust.

But instead of simply telling us what not to do, Vivek offers clear, practical steps for building a relationship where cooperation flows naturally.

We dive into:

✨ The "Model, Guide, Friend" framework and how it can transform your parenting.

✨ Why hearing “no” from our kids feels so triggering and how to embrace it as a gift.

✨ How to teach kids to set boundaries and resist peer pressure, without controlling them.

✨ Debunking the myth that noncoercive parenting raises “soft snowflakes” or kids who walk all over us.

✨ Inspiring through values—and the importance of knowing and living your own.

Vivek also shares his personal journey of raising his now-28-year-old daughter this way—despite being raised in a home filled with control and coercion. His insights are powerful, practical, and guaranteed to shift the way you think about guiding your child.

💡 One of Vivek’s most powerful reminders:

“When your child says no, say: ‘Thank you so much for telling your truth.’” Mindblowing?! Yup. Have you ever tried it? Probably not. Radical, powerful - TRY IT.

If you’re ready to move beyond power struggles and create a parenting approach built on trust, connection, and collaboration—this episode is for you.

🎧 Tune in now and discover how to guide your child while respecting their voice.

Find out more about Vivek’s work here:

W: meaningfulideas.com

IG: @meaningfulideas

FB: facebook.com/meaningfulideas

YT: youtube.com/c/meaningfulideas

🌟🌟🌟

Hi, I'm Stephanie Pinto. I'm an Emotional Intelligence best-selling author, award-winning coach and international speaker. I'm also a paediatric anxiety therapist (and previous speech language pathologist!) and I love helping people use emotional intelligence to become calmer, more connected and live happier lives.

✅ Want me to speak

to the staff your school/preschool, team or organisation on Emotional

Intelligence? Email us and we'll make it happen!

If this resonates with you, I'd love to hear from you. Email us

at [email protected] and send me your thoughts, feedback or questions!

🩷Join over 130,000 people in my online community! ➡️

www.facebook.com/groups/letsraiseemotionallyintelligentkids

💡 Head to www.stephaniepinto.com for free resources, courses, coaching, collaborations or speaking engagements.

🥳 Find me on the socials...

Insta: www.instagram.com/emotionally.intelligent.parent

FB: www.fb.com/stephpinto

YT: www.youtube.com/c/StephaniePinto