Nothing stings more than catching a child in a lie—and your first instinct is to punish. But punishment actually makes kids better liars. The research is clear: shame erodes trust; curiosity builds it. Try this script next time: “I notice the markers are missing and you said you didn’t take them. It’s okay to make mistakes. What would help you feel safe telling me the truth right now?” Follow up with restorative practices: → Child draws or writes what happened → Practices a r