While we might teach our kids to always tell the truth, many Kiwi parents are lying about their offspring’s age in order to benefit – in the wallet.
A recent study of New Zealand families found one in five parents have fibbed about how old their child is while on holiday in order to get a discount on travel, food or even sneak them in somewhere they are technically “too young” to enter.
The research, conducted by online holiday website Wotif, found the most common motivation for telling porkies about their child’s age was to get cheaper access to an attraction – younger children are often charged less.
Parents also admitted to lying to get a deal on meals, cheaper transportation, and access to children’s activities, including kids clubs.
While many parents try to lower their child’s age, four per cent of parents revealed they made their kid appear older to sneak them into a show, on a ride or into a movie when they were technically too young.
The research found men are more likely to fib than women.
“Kiwis are a cheeky bunch of travellers,” Wotif travel specialist Kim Stockham said.
She suggests other methods of trying to score a holiday bargain when travelling with children – minus the guilt of telling a white lie.
“Try being flexible with travel dates, consider travelling during shoulder seasons, look at locations just outside main destinations or check out new providers.”
