Article: A white lie every day.

THE average parent tells their child a white lie every day to steer a path through life's little difficulties.

Among classic fibs are that Father Christmas only gives presents to good children, spinach gives you big muscles and sitting in front of the television for too long gives you square eyes.

Others include that eating crusts puts hair on your chest and that the jingle of an ice cream van means it has sold out.

The survey of 3,000 mums and dads found that 66 per cent were prepared to turn to a white lie if all else failed.

The most common lie - told by 84 per cent of parents - is that Father Christmas only gives presents to good ...

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