What to Do When Your Child Lies: ⚖️ Stay Calm. Lying is a mistake, not a sign of bad character. Respond as you would to any other mistake—correct it, but also teach them what to do next time. Harsh reactions (yelling, physical punishment) may stop the behavior temporarily, but they don’t teach your child what to do instead. Plus, research shows that harsh responses can lead to more lying, as these types of reactions often make kids scared to seek help when they mess up. 🚫 Avoid Power Struggles.