Just a word of caution about how what seems fun now, when kids are cute and gullible, might come back to bite you 20+ years later.
It didnt have any negative impacts on my life but small silly lies certainly could.
This is how they learn to actually pay attention to where they are.
People just don't respect kids. Would you enjoy that game with other adults? Even if no matter the situation they wouldn't give a shit if you wanted to stop playing it or not?
Not being able to trust anyone ever to be acting in good faith and be honest is one of the reasons why we can't have nice things.
Anyway, "other adults" lie all the time. Every employer I ever had has lied one time or another. This is important information. Bringing kids up into some fairies and unicorn fantasy where everything is unthinkingly accepted, thats disrespecting children
Yes, and if this is their standard modus operandi the healthy thing to do, if possible, is getting rid of them from your life.
Are you gonna be happy when your kids start playing the game with you? When they are the ones unilaterally deciding what matters and what doesn't?
If the answer is "no" then you aren't respecting them as individuals capable of learning, thought and action. And I got the feeling you won't be happy when they do it with you.
When you constantly play games like that you are also establishing that you can never be trusted, even if they think it matters.
Games aren't fun when you don't know someone's playing with you and you're trying to be serious.
YMMV, and I hope it does. I'm just providing the anecdote that I'm not in touch with my dad anymore, and dishonesty that at least looked a lot like what you're describing is a significant part of the reason.
I remember being a kid. I don't lie to kids, not intentionally. They can be very easily mislead and lying feels so wrong for this reason alone.
I don't trust elders in family who lied or use to lie to me when I was a kid and I found out it was a lie at that time. That image of them lying has stayed.
To train them about finding way back home you can just ask them to lead you home. It will make them feel good that their parent is trusting them to take them home. Make it their responsibility. Go wherever your kids lead you to. It will be more fun than lying. Same can be done for almost anything else you think you should lie about to teach them.