[aedems]

Just a quick thing that I do with my own kids if I "catch" them in a lie. It is usually the typical kid stuff, but could work in a lot of situations. Ex. I see one of the kids take a piece of candy out of the jar, even after I have given them specific instructions of no candy. I then ask "A, did you take a piece of candy out of the jar" (this is usually of course while they are still chomping on it). The child says "No". I then tell them that they have 2 minutes to come and tell me the truth. If they do not, they will not only get punished for eating a piece of candy when they were told not to, but also they will get doubly punished for lying about it. It usually works and then we have a long discussion about how it is very hurtful to lie to someone and that is why you get punished. The punishment for eating candy is usually no candy for how ever many days. The punishment for lying is usually something being taken away that they like (TV, music, etc.) You have to catch them in the lie for this to work though. They get tons of praise though for telling the truth and I thank them for telling me the truth, though they still get punished for whatever the deed was that they did, but not for lying if they decide to tell the truth. Who is on first?