Character Word

TIPS for teaching your kids HONESTY

Once your kids reach an age at which they can tell the difference between telling the truth and telling a lie, you can begin instilling the value of honesty. They may not completely understand the value of honesty yet, but they can learn that they are expected to tell the truth and that they must face the consequences if they do not.

Follow these tips to help your child learn to be honest:

• Avoid labels. Don’t call your child a liar.
• Don’t ask questions when you already know the answer; this will only set them up to lie.
• Work with your child to reduce any unnecessary stress that may be weighing them down and encouraging them to lie.
• Avoid emphasizing bad behavior; try to bring up your child’s good behavior rather than their bad behavior.
• Find out why your child is fibbing; there may be important reasons that you don’t know about.
• Praise truth-telling instead of just punishing dishonesty.
• Don’t forget “little white lies.” Encourage your child to be honest, but not brutally and unnecessarily honest.
• Teach your child that lying doesn’t work; it’s never a good way to get what you want.
• Keep your cool—don’t overreact or yell if your child lies.
• Set a good example. The best way to teach honesty is, to be honest (VanClay, 2017).

August:

Courtesy: Demonstrating Good manners and social conduct; polite behavior.  

September:

Responsibility: Being accountable for your own actions and taking ownership of what you say and do. 

October:

Honesty: Telling the truth, admitting wrong-doing, being trustworthy and acting with integrity. 

November:

Service: Meeting others' needs through support projects, voluntarily, without the desire for personal gain or reward. 

December:

Compassion: Showing consideration of others in words, thought, and deed regardless of differences. 

January:

Self-Control: Having control over one's actions, words, thoughts and emotions. 

February:

Respect: Showing consideration for yourself, others, property, rules and the environment.

March:

Teamwork: Working with other people to accomplish common goals.

April:

Perseverance: Demonstrating determination and commitment toward completing a task or goal; not giving up. 

May:

Moral Courage: Doing the right thing in the face of difficulty and following your conscience instead of the crowd.