4 1/2 yr old son lies or truth?

My babysitter called me yesterday, said my 4 1/2 yr old son told another younger boy that if he told on him he would kill him.  I talked with the sitter about it and we thought maybe he was spending too much time with the older kids in the neighborhood and picking up some bad stuff.

then when I asked him about it, I asked if someone said that to him or where he might have heard it and he said, "Auntie Dawn (babysitter), hit me and told me that if I told my mom or dad she would kill me".  I was horified, then I asked where she hit him and he couldn't remember, I asked why she hit him, and he said cause he was crying becuase he wanted me to come get him.

He's been wanting to spend more time with me lately, I don't know if he's telling stories or not, I need a babysitter, I told him I have to still work and he'd have to go to someone new, and he was fine with that.  

[treazzure007]

at 4 yrs old, some of the more creative kids can weave together some very unique storytales.  however, i think they are equally able to adequately communicate and tell you about their day in detail.  if he said that the babysitter hit him and has even told you the lines she used when she did it, he's likely being honest.  dont hesitate to get him a new sitter right away

[RockRose]

This sounds weird to me.  The babysitter calls to say he had said this - if she had said it herself to him,  I'm having a really hard time thinking she'd call you and basically open the door for you to poke around and find out.

Secondly,  he can't remember where he was hit.  

I think for some reason - maybe valid - he doesn't want to be in her care anymore.  But I'm having a hard time with the details of this story.

[lbzahn]

Hi, thanks so much for your feedback, that's where I'm at right now too.  We think if his story is true that maybe she covered herself with her story knowing that he would probably repeat it.  here's my true dilemma, if he is telling the truth and I send him back anyway without completely believing him, he'll lose trust in me and not tell me these things anymore. but if he is lying and I beleive his story, this opens him up to tell even more stories like this.  I'm heartbroken and don't know what to do.

[boosty]

i personally think that hes telling the truth. but then you need to look at your own kid and figure it . because you only know your child and how much he knows. for example: my 3 year old daugther does not know the words "i'm gonna kill you". so if she says it, i know its true. i was watching a t.v talk show where they were saying that most of the time when children say really horrifying things like that, its the truth. but i cant give you an answer. i would belive it for some reason. him not remembering where he was hit is normal i think .