Do as I say, not as I do
New research[1] out today shows that the average parent admits to lying to their children over a 100 times a year[2] - that’s equivalent to twice a week on average.
The white lies[3] study, conducted by Sheilas' Wheels home insurance, found that despite 90 per cent of parents telling their children off for fibbing, two thirds (66 per cent) of UK parents surveyed think that it is ok for them to tell lies to their offspring.
Top ten white lies parents tell their children:
1. If you put your tooth under the pillow the tooth fairy will take it away (78 per cent)
2. Father Christmas only visits good children (67 per cent)
3. Carrots make you see in the dark (65 per cent)
4. Too much television gives you square eyes (47 per cent)
5. If you cross your eyes or make a silly face and the wind changes then it will stay like that (38 per cent)
6. Eating your crusts makes your hair curly (37 per cent)
7. Your nose grows if you tell lies (34 per cent)
8. Spinach gives you muscles like Popeye (24 per cent)
9. = Picking your nose makes your brain fall out (18 per cent)
9. = If you swallow chewing gum it gets tangled around your internal organs (18 per cent)
Parents are not just bending the truth to their offspring as a third (33 per cent) of those polled have also fibbed to their child's teacher. Of those parents, 30 per cent even admit to telling their children's school that their son or daughter was unwell when they were in fact in perfectly good health or even on holiday.
According to the study parents are also actively encouraging their children to tell white lies to their teachers, with 37 per cent of parents admitting to feeding their children fibs about why they were late, why they hadn't done their homework (31 per cent) and why they had a day off school (35 per cent).
Jacky Brown at Sheilas' Wheels home insurance comments: "It would seem that some parents across the UK aren't necessarily setting the best example to their children. Telling a white lie may seem like the right thing to do at the time, but children will probably be quick to pick up on these making them think that lying is acceptable - no matter how big or small.
Honesty really is always the best policy - particularly when it comes to insurance. Not even the smallest of fibs is acceptable when applying for an insurance policy or when making a claim."
Two thirds of parents polled (63 per cent) even admit to using their children as a convenient excuse when they want to get out of a social appointment or gathering, and 61 per cent of parents have even used their child as an excuse for being late.
Regional differences
- 77 per cent of Londoners admit to using their child as an excuse to get out of a boring telephone conversation
- Three quarters of Scottish parents (76 per cent) believe that it is ok to tell lies to children
- Over half (53 per cent) of Welsh parents have told a white lie to their children's teachers
- ends -
For further information please contact the Sheilas' Wheels press office at Mischief on 020 7100 9999 or email sheilaswheels@mischiefpr.com
Visit the official fansite for Sheilas’ Wheels: www.ilovesheilas.com
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Notes to Editors:
- Sheilas' Wheels used the independent online research company Fly Research who surveyed 1,015 men and women from across the UK, aged 18 and over, between the 19th and 22nd February 2010.
- Two lies told per week x 52 weeks a year = 104 lies a year.
- Name given to the research conducted by Sheilas' Wheels home insurance. A 'white lie' is an unimportant lie (especially one told to be tactful or polite). Source: http://dictionary.die.net/white lie
