Of all the things that a parent doesn’t want their children to learn to do is lie, however, there is a study coming out of the Institute of Child Study at Toronto University that states a child who lies early on has better cognitive, or reasoning ability, in their development. See a cut from the report at BBC below:
The director of the Institute of Child Study at Toronto University, Dr Kang Lee, said: “Parents should not be alarmed if their child tells a fib.
“Their children are not going to turn out to be pathological liars. Almost all children lie.
“It is a sign that they have reached a new developmental milestone.
“Those who have better cognitive development lie because they can cover up their tracks.”
This was because they had developed the ability to carry out a complex juggling act which involves keeping the truth at the back of their brains.
He added: “They even make bankers in later life.”
Lying. Sure, it covers up the truth for a moment, however, a truly smart person would realize that it doesn’t pay to lie nor attempt to do anything that one would have to lie about. This is the difference between simple cognitive development and that word we know as wisdom. God nor parents would be thrilled at a lying child, nor should this study be a cause for excitement as all it is really stating is that a child has come to the realization of right and wrong while not knowing full well how to choose right over wrong in instances were the child chooses the lie.
Take for example in the scripture from Isaiah 7:13-17
13And [Isaiah] said, Hear then, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary and try the patience of men, but will you weary and try the patience of my God also?
14Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, the young woman who is unmarried and a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [God with us].
15Butter and curds and wild honey shall he eat when he knows [enough] to refuse the evil and choose the good.
16For before the child shall know [enough] to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land [Canaan] whose two kings you abhor and of whom you are in sickening dread shall be forsaken [both Ephraim and Syria].(B)
17The Lord shall bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father’s house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim [the ten northern tribes] departed from Judah–even the king of [a]Assyria.
Based on this scripture which was written before this study as well as sent through Isaiah, children don’t know enough if they don’t know to choose right over wrong, thus, making them have further to go in fundamental principles of wisdom, maturity and greater knowledge. Thus, the study done at Toronto University actually didn’t consider all things except when concluding.
Sure, one can say that children will do better if they lie at an early age, however, does this make any sense in the case of adults and children who lie about stealing, killing, raping or even fighting and get away with it? It only makes that thing the study call a better cognitive development a menace to society. In all actuality, a greater and better cognitive mind thinks along the lines of not doing something that one day you will regret.
Children fear and many times run off of impulse, thus, feel the need to lie, thus they do. Better cognitive thinking overrides impulse and emotion and does the right thing, which in turn, will lead to better living in the future. Upon reading the selection of the study, maybe what the study is only trying to say is more on the lines of the brain of children has reached a point of understanding how to cover up the truth, thus, another milestone in know how and growth of the mind…not necessarily better. Just a thought, but who knows?
One thing is certain – everyone has had their turn at lying. In the end, every adult and child fell in different boats in their future. Some successful and others not quite so. In the end, the lie is a sin and God can’t be too pleased with that.
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