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There’s something about lying that grabs our attention. The devious tactics and misdirection on The Traitors made it a smash hit; “fake news” continues to go viral and some of the fibs on panel show Would I Lie to You confound contestants and audiences alike.

Even one of the first stories many of us share with our children is “The Boy Who Cried Wolf”. We use this fable to teach a lesson about why lying is wrong, but despite our best efforts, and the story’s unhappy ending, at some point, children will start learning how to lie.

Does lying always end in disaster like in the tale? And what makes children lie? To find out, Parents’ Toolkit spoke to Dr Lara Warmelink, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Lancaster University and Dr Alison McClymont, a Child Psychologist.