--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The three-year-old who lies about taking…" description: "\"The three-year-old who lies about taking a cookie isn't really a liar after all. He simply can't control his impulses. He then convinces himself of a n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f0/cathy-rindner-tempelsman-54203_about_the-three-year-old-who-lies-about-taking_1124262.jpg" --- # The three-year-old who lies about taking a cookie isn't… ![“The three-year-old who lies about taking a cookie isn't really a liar after all. He simply can't control his impulses. He then convinces himself of a new truth and, eager for your approval, reports the version that he knows will make you happy.” quote by Cathy Rindner Tempelsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f0/cathy-rindner-tempelsman-54203_about_the-three-year-old-who-lies-about-taking_1124262.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f0/cathy-rindner-tempelsman-54203_about_the-three-year-old-who-lies-about-taking_1124262.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f0/cathy-rindner-tempelsman-54203_about_the-three-year-old-who-lies-about-taking_1124262.jpg) > “The three-year-old who lies about taking a cookie isn't really a liar after all. He simply can't control his impulses. He then convinces himself of a new truth and, eager for your approval, reports the version that he knows will make you happy.” [Cathy Rindner Tempelsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-rindner-tempelsman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Children’s impulsivity leads to false statements, not moral failure **In simple terms:** Kids lie due to impulse control, not intent Key Takeaway Teach self‑control and honest communication Themes development psychology honesty Mood concerned educational Type psychological instructive When to use this quote - parenting - education - discipline Key Concepts impulse control cognitive development Questions to Reflect On - How can parents foster impulse control? - What role does approval seeking play? A Different Perspective Children may still lie intentionally later ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Impulses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impulses/) [Liar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liar/) [Lies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lies/) [Reports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reports/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Voltaire was a smart cookie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry/voltaire-was-a-smart-cookie/) [John Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry/) > [Your my daily fourtune cookie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syoung/your-my-daily-fourtune-cookie/) Syoung > [I was really freaked out when I heard that Cookie Monster was going to be changed to Veggie Monster, but that turned out to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-meriwether/i-was-really-freaked-out-when-i-heard-that-cookie-monster-was-going/) [Elizabeth Meriwether](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-meriwether/) > [Share this cookie for no reason!! :) Lol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-copeland/share-this-cookie-for-no-reason-lol/) [Rachel Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-copeland/) > [This is cookie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-lee/this-is-cookie/) [Marshall Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-lee/) > [I guess I'm just a tough cookie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesaro/i-guess-i-m-just-a-tough-cookie/) [Cesaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesaro/) > [Cool story bro. want a cookie ?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkonwn/cool-story-bro-want-a-cookie/) [Unkonwn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unkonwn/) > [“Did you catch the time-of-great-suffering thing?” Her expression softened. “Can you just make sure I’m not around when it happens?” “No can do,” I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/did-you-catch-the-time-of-great-suffering-thing-her-expression/) [Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/) > [“Everyone needs to calm down! Okay, you got a weird cookie. So what? I don’t mean to swat your ego here, buddy, but this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-wood/everyone-needs-to-calm-down-okay-you-got-a-weird-cookie-so-what-i-don/) [Geoffrey Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-wood/) > [ “Fucking delish, I don't care if it's a faggy word, oops, sorry, no offense, sorry again. \[i\]Delish! Criminy!\[/i\] This is like a cookie, it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/fucking-delish-i-don-t-care-if-it-s-a-faggy-word-oops-sorry-no/) [Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/) > [Cookie Monster thief, not liar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cookie-monster/cookie-monster-thief-not-liar/) [Cookie Monster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cookie-monster/) > [“Do you want a cookie? - What? - A cookie. Like an Oreo. Do you want one? - No. - How can you not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/do-you-want-a-cookie-what-a-cookie-like-an-oreo-do-you-want-one-no/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“Am I alone in this mother-food connection or does being with your mom trigger the sudden and voracious need for large amounts of mac…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-paine/am-i-alone-in-this-mother-food-connection-or-does-being-with-your-mom/) April Paine > [Sometimes I'm in the mood for a cookie, sometimes a bowl of chips.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorit-kemsley/sometimes-i-m-in-the-mood-for-a-cookie-sometimes-a-bowl-of-chips/) [Dorit Kemsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorit-kemsley/) > [I would love to tell you that I don't worry about losing the weight after the baby is born, but I do try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-procter/i-would-love-to-tell-you-that-i-don-t-worry-about-losing-the-weight/) [Emily Procter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-procter/) ## More by Cathy Rindner Tempelsman > [Anytime you have a difficult encounter with your child, there is a good chance that at least one of these factors is bringing out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-rindner-tempelsman/anytime-you-have-a-difficult-encounter-with-your-child-there-is-a/) [Cathy Rindner Tempelsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-rindner-tempelsman/) > [Be aware that the more often a child hears the word no, the greater his need to say no himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-rindner-tempelsman/be-aware-that-the-more-often-a-child-hears-the-word-no-the-greater/) [Cathy Rindner Tempelsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-rindner-tempelsman/) > [Many working mothers feel guilty about not being at home. And when they are there, they wish it could be perfect. This pressure to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-rindner-tempelsman/many-working-mothers-feel-guilty-about-not-being-at-home-and-when/) [Cathy Rindner Tempelsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-rindner-tempelsman/) > [The child who acts unlovable is the child who most needs to be loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-rindner-tempelsman/the-child-who-acts-unlovable-is-the-child-who-most-needs-to-be-loved/) [Cathy Rindner Tempelsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-rindner-tempelsman/) > [Many parents worry that theywill reinforce a fear by being overly sympathetic. It helps toknow that when children are permitted to avoid an animal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-rindner-tempelsman/many-parents-worry-that-theywill-reinforce-a-fear-by-being-overly/) [Cathy Rindner Tempelsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-rindner-tempelsman/) [Explore all 6 Cathy Rindner Tempelsman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-rindner-tempelsman/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The three-year-old who lies about taking a cookie isn't really a liar after all. He simply can't control his impulses. He then convinces himself of a new truth and, eager for your approval, reports the version that he knows will make you happy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cathy Rindner Tempelsman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-rindner-tempelsman/the-three-year-old-who-lies-about-taking-a-cookie-isn-t-really-a-liar/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-rindner-tempelsman/the-three-year-old-who-lies-about-taking-a-cookie-isn-t-really-a-liar/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f0/cathy-rindner-tempelsman-54203_about_the-three-year-old-who-lies-about-taking_1124262.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f0/cathy-rindner-tempelsman-54203_about_the-three-year-old-who-lies-about-taking_1124262.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f0/cathy-rindner-tempelsman-54203_about_the-three-year-old-who-lies-about-taking_1124262.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The three-year-old who lies about taking a cookie isn't really a liar after all. He simply can't control his…” — Cathy Rindner Tempelsman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Cathy Rindner Tempelsman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-rindner-tempelsman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The three-year-old who lies about taking...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-rindner-tempelsman/the-three-year-old-who-lies-about-taking-a-cookie-isn-t-really-a-liar/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-rindner-tempelsman/the-three-year-old-who-lies-about-taking-a-cookie-isn-t-really-a-liar/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```