Concerned about fantasy vs lying

Parents will ask about children telling stories. Parents are concerned that a child who tells untrue stories about events might be learning that saying things that are not true is ok.

Remember behaviors are part of a child's psychological health. Psychological health incorporates both genetics and learning. Children usually should have begun to develop logic by age 7 ish. Brain development, as well as social development, and other learning, are their reason for saying things or making up things, but each child is unique. Development is individualized. There is a range of approximate age when children begin to understand the difference between real and fantasy. Parents should give thought to other examples regarding their child's demonstration of this ability to know the difference. http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/development/piaget.shtml

Empathy is learned therefore can begin at a very early age yet pragmatic and social experiences seem to be more conscious starting around age 3. Again learned behaviors are individualized for many reasons. There are many factors which affect learned experiences. Parents of course play a significant role in teaching empathy. Remember, giving children information in a positive way will be most effective to promote children to be receptive and responsive to the information. http://psychcentral.com/lib/2007/how-children-develop-empathy/

Another important consideration is motive. What is the child's objective. If he or she is having fun, being creative, or demonstrating healthy harmless fantasies..fine, but if children are learning to use fibs (nice word for lying) to manipulate, create confusion, be harmful, or avoid taking responsibility for an inappropriate behavior then parents must address the situation with implementation of appropriate consequences in order to teach children that telling the truth is important for many reason and that lying can and probably will cause them to lose many privileges in life.

Remember as always, learn about child development from reputable sources. And for more information you should always contact a child behavioral expert.

Happy parenting!

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a virtue and a healthy mindset as well as a healthy behavior. The interesting aspect is that forgiveness is much more healing for the forgiver than it is for the perpetrator/offender.

A little forgiveness eases the stress and reduces the energy required for remaining angry. Staying angry inhibits the ability to think positively. There are many cognitive distortions that people are accustomed and conditioned to utilize in order to maintain unhealthy ways of thinking. Staying angry requires lots of these distortions all at once.

Imagine of individuals channeled all that same energy and effort into being positive, kind, happy, healthy, and productive.??

Another note on communication skills

If people would learn to express their feelings respectfully and accurately on a regular basis, then other would probably be more receptive and responsive to to them.

Generally individuals are simply emotionally reactive without conscious thought. They say and do things because of how something makes them feel, instead of being a critical thinker and making sure they have all the information about the situation or the person. The react before they take the time to consider all possible causes of someone actions or comments.

Also when expressing feelings people more often then not simply state something about someone else. They begin too many sentences with "you" instead of "I".

Many people could benefit tremendously from improving their communication skills.

Loneliness

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34209727/ns/health-behavior/