Ten Common Lies Parents Tell Their Children

As children, we all remember the things our parent told us that later in life we discovered weren't actually true. Things like, if you don't keep your ears clean, carrots will grow out of them is just one of many I remember.Nothing's really changed much over the years. Parents still lie to their kids and most of the "stories," as I like to call them, are pretty harmless. Not only that, but based on recent surveys, it appears the most common lies haven't really changed much either.

• Santa will bring you presents on Christmas Eve
• If you don't come with me now, I'll leave you here
• Put your tooth under the pillow and the Tooth Fairy will leave you money
• That's beautiful piano, (or other instrument), playing
• We don't have any more candy
• We'll come back and buy you that toy next time
• If you don't be quiet, (or behave), that man/lady will be angry with you
• I don't have any money with me right now
• If you tell a lie, your nose will grow
• If you don't stay close, a kidnapper will grab you

While there's some debate whether parents should lie to their children at all, these "instrumental lies," as experts call them, are typically told to change a child's behavior or to give them some positive reinforcement. In some ways, they help parents quickly deal with a situation at a time and place that may be less than ideal for anything more.

Obviously, this list isn't even close to covering every little lie a parent has ever told told a kid so feel free to add some of your favorites in the comments section below.

[Time] [T and F Online] [BBC]