Babies Master Deception Skills Earlier Than Thought

0:00On March 16th, a new study from the University of Bristol shows babies pick up on deception skills way earlier than most people think, even before, turning one year old. About one quarter of infants start grasping the idea by 10 months, and that rises to half by 17 months. Researchers gather reports from 130 parents who describe 16 common sneaky moves kids pull off before they're 4 years old. These include things like denial, exaggeration, or hiding toys so others cannot play with them. Parents often spy toddlers pretending not to hear when asked to tidy up or help with chores. Kids also get crafty with excuses, doing forbidden stuff in secret or twisting the truth by leaving out key details. By three years old, children step up their game, getting more creative and frequent with these tactics. The study highlights how deception shifts from simple actions in the early years to more polished tricks later on. This research reassures parents that a bit of fibbing is just normal development, helping

1:01kids build social smarts. Spotting these patterns early lets grownups communicate better and keep things on track.