Schools face the challenge of cheating. It may be common, but children shouldn’t be cheating and for those that do, there is a reason for their behavior. It could be the child doesn’t understand or has fallen behind others in the class. Whatever the reason, it’s essential to find the root cause of the problem. 

Knowing why the child cheats allow you to effectively deal with the issue. Fortunately, children unwittingly give you the answer to the problem. So, what strategies can you use to deal with a child who cheats?

Reassure a Child Who Cheats to Please You

While it’s the oldest excuse in the book, some children will cheat to please their parents. It’s as simple as that. Children will find a way to make their parents proud of their achievements because they think it’s what they want to see. 

Children are under pressure to excel in school, especially when the child shows potential. Some will cheat to keep their parents happy. It’s not what you want to hear, but sometimes, it’s the harsh reality of life. 

Fortunately, you can deal with the situation in a calm but firm manner. For example, you need to reassure the child you love them, regardless of how well they do in school. Make sure they know it doesn’t matter if they excel in sports or Math, your love is unconditional. It could dispel the child’s notion they have to cheat to please you. 

Explain Why Cheating Hurts Others

Sometimes, children genuinely do not know why they cheat. If your child says they don’t know, it could be down to a lack of motivation at school. It’s not ideal and might not be entirely the school’s fault. Children often create their own form of entertainment because they dislike a subject, and it could make them cheat. Of course, some children just do it because they want to know where the boundaries are and what they can get away with. 

So, you need to sit down and engage the child in open-ended questions. It gives them the opportunity to understand the impact on others and how disruptive their behavior has been. It, hopefully, will prevent them from doing it again.

Explain the Simple Route Doesn’t Work and Talk to Their Teacher

Children are under pressure to keep up with the demand of school. From homework to learning about something that disinterests them, your child might cheat because it’s the easier route. It requires less effort, time, and energy; and is a more attractive prospect. 

You need to discuss the consequences of their actions. Don’t press the issue so that the child stops listening, just calmly explain that cheating isn’t appropriate in any setting. Let them know if they need help or don’t understand, ask their teachers for support, or come to you. 

You may also want to meet with the teacher and explore ways to make learning easier for your child to learn. 

Nip Cheating in the Bud

Parents sometimes believe all children cheat and theirs will grow out of it; unfortunately, that attitude negatively impacts the child. For example, a child cheats on a test but their teacher and parents decide it’s a one-off and takes no action. It signals there is no direct consequence of their action and for a child, it’s a license to do it again. Children don’t learn when they cheat, and that behavior will continue throughout their lives. 

Acting now prevents cheating from being an issue in later life.