How do I handle lying or stealing?

Young school-age children sometimes lie to avoid punishment or to test boundaries — this is developmentally normal, though it should be addressed calmly. Focus on why they felt the need to lie rather than punishing the lie itself: 'I'm not angry, but I need to understand what happened.' For stealing, have the child return the item and apologize, focusing on empathy: 'How would you feel if someone took your toy?' Consult your pediatrician if dishonesty is frequent or escalating.