Yes kids are very smart and know the rules. They know what is right and wrong and how to act, they know exactly what is expected of them at our house and they know how to manipulate their parents. I have similar issues at pick up time with kids acting wild doing things there is no way they would do if their parents were not around. I started speaking up if the parents were not going to. I see it day in and day out. Parents dressing their kids even though they can do it themselves, the whining, crying, tantrums, the back talking. I just laugh to myself and think boy oh boy do you have your work cut out for you as your child gets older.