Over the years, we’ve been told so many things by our parents and educators, some of which are, simply put, lies. As small children, we learned about Christopher Columbus coming to this new land and helping the pilgrims and “Indians” get along; we gave our hearts to the lore behind Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy, but how did you feel when you found out the truth?

I’m sure that many of us felt betrayed by both parents and teachers when we figured out that Santa really can’t fit through the chimney and that America wasn’t Columbus’ true destination. It’s hard to believe that such relevant people would say these things if they weren’t true.

One thing that may be hard to comprehend is why these important role models in our lives would lie about such things. Well, when it comes to folklore like Santa Claus, those lies can be helpful in developing a child’s imagination. It also gives them something fun to anticipate when the holidays come around (putting cookies out for Santa, being good for Elf on the Shelf). The reasoning for lying about more serious topics such as historical events is that children won’t be able to digest the truth about them. Even when social issues come up, parents shy away from talking to their children about what’s going on so they won’t be overwhelmed.

The issue that presents itself in lying to children is that they are learning information that will only have to be corrected as they get older. If the middleman could be cut out, kids could be more educated on important topics early on, and that can stop them from developing social issues later on.

The “social issues” I’m referring to were discovered in a study done by Chelsea Hays and Leslie J. Carver. Children were lied to about candy in the next room (which enticed the children), only to find out it was a ruse to get them to play a game. Later, they were told not to look at a toy and when the researchers came back, were asked if they had looked or not. As expected, the group that was lied to about the candy was more likely to lie about whether or not they looked at the toy.

This study shows the damage that lying could have on children if not executed responsibly. There’s no reason to lie to kids unless it’s about a topic they’re truly not prepared to talk about. Even if the topic is difficult to talk about, it’s possible to present the information in an age appropriate manner that will refrain from lying, but also doesn’t withhold the truth.

As the next generation of parents and possible educators, and even right now, as older siblings, cousins and members of a community with younger children, we need to be able to properly inform those younger than us about important topics, and do so in a way where they can still remain children. We can save them a lot of confusion and shock, much like ours when we discovered the truth, if we just abstain from telling lies that don’t need to be told. If we do this, we can yield a generation that will be fully trained in the power of knowledge.