Most gamblers know that everyone has a 'tell.' A 'tell' is an uncouncious signal that a person is lying. A 'tell' can be through body language, voice inflection, or a contradictory response, either verbal or physical. The key for a parent to know when a teen is lying, is knowing the teenager's 'tell'. Learning to detect a 'tell' involves listening to a teen and deciding when a teenager is not telling the truth.

A parent must not only be alert to when a teen may be lying, but when a teen is being truthful. This is the second most important key for a parent to know, to unwittingly accuse a teen of lying, when the teen is being truthful can construct an atmosphere of distrust between parent and child. http://www.blifaloo.com/info/lies.php

• The teen won't look at the person speaking

• Long pauses in the conversation, as if the teen is attempting to come up with a believable answer

• Adding unnecessary details to the conversation

• Fidgeting. Touching of the face or behind the ear

• Rubbing the forehead

• Arms crossed over the chest. This often signals a sense of insecurity

• Repeatedly protesting innocence

• Providing a lengthier explanation than necessary

• Search for inconsistinces in the teen's story. Ask the teen to tell the story again

• Dilated or enlarged pupilshttp://losu.org/relations/22-obvious-ways-to-detect-and-tell-if-a-person-is-lying

Decide which lie to call a teenager on. Is the lie harmless? Perhaps the teen has not been exactly honest about grades or taking out the trash. Sometimes a child simply does not 'mean' to lie, he or she may simply not know the truth and make up an answer rather than admit not knowing the answer. And then there are the lies that signal a teen is in trouble. This is the reason a parent must know their child and the difference between a harmless white lie and a potentially dangerous lie. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/194765/the_4_reasons_why_people_lie.html?cat=17

These tips are more about the adult, than the teenager. Teens appreciate honesty and having a role model to look up to. Role model the type of communication desired in a teen-ager.

• Try to Eat Together When Possible

• Answer questions directly and honestly

• Admit when a mistake is made

• Offer an opinion without lecturing, blaming, or judging

• Take time to think about responses or decisions affecting a teenhttp://www.aap.org/featured/talkingwithyourteen.pdf<ref>