A study of families in the United States and China has concluded that most parents tell lies to their children as a way of reinforcing desirable social behaviour.

The most common lie is parents threatening to leave children alone in public unless they behaved.  Children are also told that they would grow taller for every bite of broccoli so as to encourage healthy eating habits.

Parents also lie to their children that they would go blind unless they ate particular vegetables according to the study.

Researchers examined the use of "instrumental lying" - and found that such tactically-deployed falsehoods were used by an overwhelming majority of parents in both the United States and China - based on interviews with about 200 families.

Another lie that was common in both countries was the "false promise to buy a requested toy at some indefinite time in the future," the study revealed.

The researchers concluded that the study raises "important moral questions for parents about when, if ever, parental lying is justified".

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/relationships/parenting/Most-parents-lie-to-their-kids/articleshow/18167087.cms