Tattle tales: how to nip it in the bud Why preschoolers tell tales Children tattle to exert power, to boost self-esteem, or just to get attention. It often starts during the preschool years, and it usually happens among siblings ? brought on by feelings of rivalry ? but it can also happen with playmates. Tattling allows a child to "one-up" another child, or to gain favour in the eyes of his parent or teacher. Tattling also has its positive side: it can demonstrate your preschooler's desire to show you that he understands rules and knows right from wrong. And since children this age don't have many conflict-resolution skills, tattling is sometimes an alternative to throwing a punch. Even so, the behaviour is something you'll want to nip in the bud quickly, because no one likes a tell-tale ? even at this tender age. What to do about tattling Assess the situation Before you decide that your preschooler is turning into a tattle tale, take stock of the situation yourself. Your child needs to learn not to tell tales, but he also needs to feel safe in the knowledge that he can ask for help when necessary. As an adult, you know that "Dad, Jonathan's playing with my cars" is a very different situation from "Dad, Jonathan's opening the front door and going outside." Preschoolers, though, can't always tell the difference. You might tell your preschooler that it's OK to alert you when someone does something dangerous, but he may still