There are many white lies that parents tell their children to stop them from behaving in a certain way or to water down the truth about a matter. You’ll find 18 examples of these lies in this article.
Santa Claus
According to New Scientist, 80% of 5-year-olds in the United States believe that Santa Claus is real. That’s right, the story of a legendary figure that brings gifts to children’s homes at Christmas time is one of the most common lies that parents tell their kids.
The Tooth Fairy
Figures from Brett Blacher say that belief in the tooth fairy is only second to belief in Santa Claus and that a whopping 40-65% of children believe in it. Adults in the Western world often tell their children about the marvels of the tooth fairy, although it is a lie.
Vegetables and Growth
Many parents try to coax their children into eating vegetables by telling them that they will not grow if they don’t eat them. But Nutrition in Bloom says that children can absolutely meet their nutrition needs without eating vegetables. As long as they eat fruit, they will still get plenty of nutrients.
TV and Square Eyes
To discourage their children from watching too much TV, parents often tell them that if they spend too much time watching TV, they will get square eyes. While watching too much TV does have negative effects on children, it will not make their eyes square.
The Moon Follows You
As parents look into the night sky with their children, they often say to them that the moon follows them wherever they go. But according to Wired, the moon only appears to follow us because it is so far away. What parents tell their children is not true.
Carrots and Night Vision
To entice their children to eat vegetables like carrots, parents often tell them that if they eat carrots, their vision will improve so much that they will be able to see in the dark. Scientific American says that under certain conditions, eating carrots will help improve eyesight. But no amount of carrots will make you have night vision.
The Stork
Another well-spread lie by parents all over the world is that the stork delivers babies. Parents often use this story to explain to children where children come from. They do this to avoid talking to them about the bird and the bees at a young age.
The Frog and Warts
Parents often tell their children that if they touch a frog, they will get warts. But the Burke Museum says that there are no amphibians that will give you warts. This myth has been around for so long that many adults believe it is true too.
Facial Expressions Sticking
Another common myth that parents tell their children is that if they make an unflattering facial expression, such as a grumpy face, it will stay that way. They tell this lie to stop their children from pulling faces. Some parents add an extra detail, stating that if the wind changes while your face is grumpy, it will stay that way.
Swallowed Gum Digests In 7 Years
Parents often tell their children that if they swallow gum, it will stay in their stomachs for 7 years while it digests. This, of course, is not true, and gum passes through the digestive system just like any other food. But parents tell their children this to prevent them from swallowing gum.
We’re Almost There
When children ask their parents on a road trip, “Are we there yet?” the famous response is, “We’re almost there.” This is often the case, even though the journey is not yet nearing its end. Parents tell their children this to make them less restless during the journey.
Chocolate Milk and Brown Cows
Many parents around the world tell their children that ordinary milk comes from black and white cows but chocolate milk, they say, comes from brown cows. This is just a fun myth that parents tell their children and they soon realize that chocolate milk is just flavored milk.
The Rainbow and the Pot of Gold
Parents often tell their children when there is a rainbow in the sky that if they were to follow it, they would find a pot of gold at the end. This is a myth that parents like to tell their children to spark their imaginations.
Misbehavior and the Police
When children misbehave, parents often tell them that the police will come and pick them up. This is especially the case when the children are currently misbehaving and it just so happens that a police officer walks or drives past. But this is nothing more than a coincidence.
TV and Vision
While it is true that excessive screen time is not good for anyone, including children, parents often stretch this fact. Some parents tell their children that if they spend too long looking at the TV, they will ruin their vision but this is an exaggeration.
Watermelon Seed and Your Belly
To prevent their kids from swallowing the seeds in a watermelon, parents tell them that if they swallow a seed, it will take root and grow a watermelon plant inside the child. Most inquisitive children work out that this is a lie after swallowing some seeds and not seeing any sign of a growing watermelon plant.
Digging and China
When children dig holes in the ground as part of a bit of fun in the yard, some parents tell them that if they dig too far, they will get to China. However, digging all the way to China is completely impossible because of the composition of the earth.
Eye Crossing
Children like to make funny faces with their faces and eyes, one of them being crossing their eyes. To discourage their children from crossing their eyes, parents tell them that if they do so, their eyes will stay crossed forever but this is not possible.
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