Presented by FKCE
Instructor: Dr. Judy Sullivan Osterhage
While lying, stealing, and cheating are all inappropriate behaviors, they are also common, especially at an early age, as children try to test their limits and are still learning right from wrong. As they grow up these behaviors can be challenging, disrespectful and frustrating. This training invites you to take a step back and look beneath the behavior because when it comes to children and youth, especially those with histories of trauma, these actions are rarely about defiance alone. More often, they are a window into a child's inner world, their unmet needs, and the survival strategies they've developed to feel safe, in control, or simply get through the day.
In this training, participants will:
Understand why kids lie: Explore the many reasons children and youth engage in dishonest behavior, from fear of consequences and desire for connection, to shame, self-protection, and the need for control. Understanding the motivation changes everything about how we respond.
Learn about developmental and survival-based lying and cheating: Distinguish between age-appropriate developmental behavior and trauma-driven survival responses to give you a more informed and compassionate lens through which to view these moments.
Identify your own triggers around lying and stealing: Explore how your own experiences, values, and emotional responses to dishonesty can shape your reactions, and how bringing awareness to those triggers can help you respond with intention rather than impulse.
When we understand the "why," we become better equipped to respond in ways that build trust, reinforce safety, and open the door to genuine growth and change for the children in our care.

CE Hours: 1