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An Honest Home
Easy as 1-2-3!
By Melissa Granberry
"I don't know who wrote on the wall." Sound familiar? Here are 3 ways to teach honesty to your kids:
A child needs to grasp the concept of "true" and "not true." Make up some questions that even preschoolers can understand, such as:
Once it's clear that they know the difference, role play:
"What if you took Tommy's toy and made him cry. How do you respond when Mom asks, 'What happened?'"
Share stories like "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" to show the consequences of not being honest.
Your child will probably realize that by telling the truth, he is getting himself into trouble. "Kids are afraid to tell the truth because they want to avoid getting in trouble," says Dr. Cathryn Tobin, pediatrician and author of The Parent's Problem Solver (Three Rivers Press, June 2002). "Unfortunately, strong-arm tactics often result in the opposite from what parents expect." Tobin suggests rewarding your kids for telling the truth. If you catch them in a "tall tale," give a gentle reminder that you expect them to be honest.