Why do most people lie to children in an attempt to protect and shelter them?

[Charliefretz329]

Isn’t this false information detrimental to helping them succeed in the real world?

[OneViewpoint]

You asked a question and answered it in the same sentence. Most people feel they need to shield children from the real world until they become old enough to cope with the truth. Let them have a childhood and innocence. But the longer you delay reality the harder it's gonna hit.

Not to pick on women but I think that mindset is especially prevalent with daddy's little girl. They are protected and told they're pretty and special little princesses. They are not held accountable like boys are. Then they go off to college or move out and get a job around 18-20 and reality hits like an artillery shell. Suddenly everyone is threatening them or harassing them and they just don't understand why they are suddenly not getting the princess treatment. People are telling them the truth and it fucking sucks, LOL. Reality is not matching their expectations based on years of avoiding reality. Not their fault. Someone created those expectations and never told them it wasn't real.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Because the alternative produces dark results. I've seen many cases where parents felt like nothing should be hidden, nothing should be adapted to a kid's emotional development. These kids may become adults looking everywhere for a shelter that never existed. These kids may become adults looking at every single person as a potential killer. I don't envy them.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

Honestly, this has been my entire argument as someone who’s also anti-censorship. The issue isn’t about “preserving innocence” and yes, it’s true that there are kids who will be too young to understand certain concepts when they ask about them, but the solution isn’t to keep that info away from them, it’s to educate them. We’d have a much better world if we chose to educate rather than keep to the puritan-based standards of ignorance.

[Ez-Bri-Z_v2]

There are a lot of things we are straight up honest with when it comes to talking to our children. For example, we never lied and said there was a Santa Claus or tooth fairy or anything like that. We have always treated our kids with respect when it comes to that kind of thing.

That being said, there are times where lying has gotten them to do what we need them to do in the moment without a fight.

[purplepoppy]

Because children aren't fully mentally developed enough to put things in proportion. We tell children theyre are safe in their beds, we don't tell them a bear could break in any time and eat them. They don't need to know that

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

[dustybiker2]

It isn't lying if you are only sharing enough information for them to need to understand.

[Charliefretz329]

Yes, but true information

[dustybiker2]

Of course

[AaronKrieger]

It depends on what it's about, but usually it is because the adult is put on the spot and can't think of a good excuse, so they lie. Often when it is a sensitive topic

[slatyb]

Yes, it is. They should tell the truth at a level appropriate for the child.

[WonderingManII]

Because they are doing the wrong thing. When someone lies it breaks trust. Children need to trust their parents.

[jahaims]

No need to burden them with adult thoughts before they are old enough to process it properly.

[beefcakebradybatson]

My parents didn't. They let us know what we as blacks would face from stupid, jealous honkkkies.

[jazzy34]

My parents did that to me. -___-

[Abbycado]

They do?

[Charliefretz329]

InMy experience, yes

[chrissykerdock]

like santa claus