Netflix Stream Team: Liar Liar #StreamTeam

The Rayburns, from the new Netflix original series, Bloodline, have some dark family secrets they’re willing to do anything to keep from coming out — lying included.

While you may not know the Rayburn clan just yet,
The Philadelphia Inquirer calls Bloodline “an intricately drawn and superbly cast portrait of a family in crisis.”

Starring Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights) and set in the Florida keys, the series follows a family caught between the ugly truth and the terrible lie that covers it up – a storyline that conjured our friends at Variety to predict that, “.. those who give Bloodline a chance will, pretty quickly, find themselves hooked.”

But let’s face it, we all lie.

White lies make life easier for parents (the park is closed today) or make our kids happy (Santa Claus is coming!). Young kids make up stories as they learn the difference between fact and fiction, while older kids sometimes lie to cover for each other or to keep themselves out of trouble.

I told my first lie when I was little, after my father took me to the circus for the first time. I came home and told my mother that I got to ride in the parade in the big top. I still remember her disappointed look when my father told her I wasn’t telling the truth. As a parent, I’ve told white lies, but I feel that’s okay. However, I know I don’t like it when my children lie to me. My 9 year old and my 7 year old share a room and I don’t always know who sneaks snacks in (they blame each other). While I don’t think that’s a terrible lie, I don’t think they understand that there are lies that can really hurt. And it also bothers me that my older child cannot take the blame at all. Even if I catch him red-handed.

Besides Bloodline, check out some additional kid-friendly titles related to lying and honesty for inspiration this month.

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire

For your little kids:

1. The Gruffalo 2. Care Bears: S1E8, Untruths and Consequences 3. Veggie Tales in the House: S1E9, Lie-monade 4. Little Princess: S1E9, I Didn’t Do It

 For your big kids:

1. Totally Spies! 2. A.N.T. Farm: S3E9, Pants on Fire 3. Spy School 4. Jessie: S1E14, World Wide Web of Lies

And for teens and parents:

1. Bloodline 2. Revenge 3. The Bling Ring 4. Pretty Little Liars

NEW ON NETFLIX for kids and families

1. Monster High: Haunted  2. How to Train Your Dragon 2  3. Inspector Gadget  4. SUPER 4

Disclosure: I am a member of Netflix’s Stream Team for the second year. I am not compensated for this, but I do receive a free Netflix Subscription and some perks. All opinions are my own. Photos and courtesy of Netflix, Kelly Ladd Sanchez and Andrea Lynn and are used with permission.