Why Is My Child Lying? What’s Really Behind the Fibs & Denials

“I didn’t do it.” Said with chocolate on their face, standing next to the empty wrapper. For many parents, lying is one of the most triggering behaviors to deal with. It feels personal, it feels like a values problem, and it can leave you wondering if you’re raising a kid you can’t trust.

But for outside-the-box kids, lying is rarely about manipulation. More often it’s an impulsive reaction before the thinking brain catches up, a way to escape shame they can’t tolerate, a working memory gap where they truly don’t remember, or a nervous system protecting itself from a reaction it’s learned to brace for. Once you understand what’s driving it, the path to honesty looks completely different.

In this session, Jill Gitten Aloia, PhD, ABPP-CN, breaks down why kids with ADHD, autism, anxiety, and other differences are more likely to lie, what’s happening in the brain in those moments, and how to respond in ways that make telling the truth feel safer.

What we’ll cover:

After Dr. Jill’s talk, she’ll be joined by Lily Baiser, MS, OTR/L, for a live parent community Q&A. Bring your specific scenarios, your “I don’t know what to do with this” moments, and the lies that have you most stumped.