Tattling is quite a common behavior in most Preschool going kids. They tattle on their friends, classmates, parents, and even other adults. Although tattling is quite annoying, it is a natural part of their development as they begin to understand the rules of fairness and social norms. If you are a new parent and feeling a bit clueless about how to tackle this behavior in your child, reading this blog post will definitely help you understand it.

First, let's understand what is tattling?

Tattling is the act of reporting on someone’s rule-breaking behavior or actions during playtime or other activities, usually to get the other person in trouble. There is nothing to be worried about as tattling is a common behavioral pattern seen in most preschoolers.

Why do kids tattle?

Kids can resort to tattling for different reasons. According to child care experts of La Palma CA, school-going kids are learning more about rules and what it means to break them. They are developing principles, understanding the difference between right and wrong, and putting more stress on being fair. So when they see someone doing something wrong in front of them, they may feel a compulsion to tell on them.

Sometimes they may also tattle because they want to get on a parent or teacher’s good side. Kids think that there may be a reward for not doing that bad thing their siblings or classmates are doing. Sometimes jealousy motivates kids to tattle and in those cases, a child may tattle to gain an edge over her siblings.

How to discourage tattling in kids?

If you know why your kids are tattling, you can start teaching them the difference between tattling and telling. Here is how to go about it:

• Preschool teachers always point out tattling. Whenever any child starts tattling on someone, they use that moment as a teaching moment and try to make children understand the difference between tattling and telling.
• It is always good to help kids understand the importance of following rules, being fair and honest.
• As parents, you can share with your kids what you expect from them. If they have a clear understanding of the expected behavior, they will behave properly.

Besides discouraging tattling, you need to be patient and empathetic towards your kids. Try to understand their perspectives, spend quality time with them and build a strong bonding with your kids.