Elaborate lies, as unhealthy as they are, are probably one of the more foundational exercises kids use to learn storytelling.
Think about it: if you don’t nail this story, your watchdog parents (who know all the tricks of the trade) will sniff it out in a second. So you make it cohesive and logical, one step following another. There are no erroneous, totally-out-of-character moments. You sprinkle in the right amount of tangential details, accurately describe the scene, and paint yourself as the hero of the story, all in a matter of seconds, before Mom notices the near-imperceptible pause before you speak.
The same skills that get us out of extra chores take us to the #1 Bestseller’s list.
So kids, don’t lie! Use that muscles to write stories instead!