But you saw her car at the mall. She said she

didn’t have homework. But other parents are talking about the big history project due next week.

Teens don’t always tell the truth. Here are some ways you can encourage your teen to be honest with you:

• Don’t ask questions if you know the answer. “Did you clean your room?” almost invites a teen to tell a lie. Try, “I noticed you haven’t cleaned your room. Want to work on a plan to get it clean so you can go out on Friday?”

• Focus on solutions, not on blame. If your teen doesn’t do her chores, ask her what she will do to finish them.

• Be honest yourself. If your teen says something that doesn’t feel right, don’t let it pass. Say, “I just don’t think that sounds like Mr. and Mrs. Smith. I’m going to give them a call to see if they know about this party.”

• Make home a place where it’s safe to tell the truth.

• Let your teen know you love her no matter what. Teens often lie because they are afraid of disappointing their parents.

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