Your seven-year-old has come home for the third day in a row without his report card. You know that they were given out early in the week, but Johnny insists he wasn't given one. How should you cope with a little liar? Here are some DOs and DON'Ts to help your child learn to tell the truth.

DO show your child that you value honesty. Encourage him to be honest and know that even if he does something wrong--you can work it out together.

DON'T focus on the lie itself. For instance if your child spills a glass of milk and denies it, say to her "Well even if you didn't do it, I know accidents do happen. Why DON'T we clean it up together?" Reinforce that even mommies and daddies make mistakes. This way he may not be afraid to tell you the truth the next time.

DO speak up then and there and tackle the problem head on. Begin with, "I know you must be worried or scared about something, but it's best to tell me what it is so we can deal with it together. "

DON'T wait for the perfect moment to react--deal with the situation immediately before his conscience gets to him.

DON'T overreact. If you make too big a deal out of it your child may feel too scared to tell you the truth. For example, if you see him push his little brother down and he denies it, say in a firm but gentle voice, "I saw you push your brother, please DON'T lie or do that again." Then drop the subject.

DO get to the root of the behavior. Often a child will lie about a little thing to cover up what is really troubling him. It could be a problem at school. Talk with your child's teacher to make sure there's nothing going on at school that you should be aware of.

DON'T get caught yourself. We're all guilty of a fib or two, so watch what you say around those little ears. DON'T tell your husband to "tell so and so you're in the shower and can't come to the phone." You're sending mixed messages.

DO use humor to diffuse the moment. "Oh it must have been those silly little gremlins who made this mess." Your child will see the fun in a statement like this and probably admit to the lie.

DON'T think you're the only parents experiencing this type of behaviour. Kids are constantly testing their parents and lying is just another obstacle to overcome. Make it clear that fibbing will not be tolerated. Your child will probably feel more secure knowing that he can't fool you.

DO reprimand your child and explain to him that lying is not acceptable behaviour. You may have to resort to taking away a privilege such as television or visiting a friend's house. If your child understands that there are consequences to lying, she may think twice the next time.

DON'T lead your child into a lie. If you see your child has done something wrong DON'T say, "Did you hit your brother?" Instead, say, "I saw you hit your brother, please DON'T do that again."

DO address the situation in a straightforward but caring manner. Explain to your child that you understand that there's something he's hiding, but he must tell the truth so that you can work out a solution. Reassure him that he's not necessarily in trouble, as long as he tells the truth.