One parent has shared a helpful trick that others can teach to their children to help them get out of an unpleasant situation.
Parents should agree on an emoji with their children that they can send them over text if they are in trouble but unable to discuss the situation in detail.
The idea was shared on social media site Reddit, by a user who explained that their son wanted to get out of a sleepover at a friend's house but didn't want it to look like his decision.
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In response, the boy sent a text containing a hot dog emoji - and his parent knew what it meant immediately.
As reported by Hull Live, the Reddit poster was then able to go around to the friend's house and 'force' his son to come home.
The user wrote: "He was supposed to be staying the night with a friend, so I was concerned when I get this text after I’ve already gone to bed.
"I called him and told him “you were supposed to unload the dishwasher before you left, now you’ve lost your privilege of spending the night. I’ll be there in five minutes, have your stuff gathered up."
Before long, the post was full of comments from fellow parents applauding the idea.
One wrote: "I love this so much. I will have to remember this for when my little one is older."
A second shared: "I am always willing to be the bad guy for them. If they need to blame me to get out of a situation, to do so before things go sideways."
"Thank you, I will make a code with my son tomorrow," a third said.
