Teaching Your Six-Year-Old the Importance of Honesty

Help children see honesty as an act of courage and responsibility – something worth striving for.

Model Honesty

Kids watch and model adult behavior. A study from the University of California, San Diego, found that elementary schoolchildren who heard a lie from an adult about the presence of candy in another room were more likely to lie to cover up their misbehavior. If we want our children to be honest, we need to be good examples of honesty.

Honor Truthfulness

Reminding kids that it's important to tell the truth before you ask about a situation increases the chance that they will be honest. Let them know that telling the truth is both important and brave. When your child tells you the truth about the situation particularly if it was hard for them to do so remember to thank them for their honesty. When we make a mistake, the first step to fixing the situation is to be honest about what happened.

Respond Thoughtfully to Lying

Encouraging your child to tell the truth is important, but what should you do if you know they are lying? Definitely don't label your child a liar. That won't help your child embrace truth telling. Instead, share what you know about a situation, explain that you expect honesty and give your child a path forward by finding a way for them to make amends. In some situations, it may help to acknowledge the feelings behind their lie, such as fear, anxiety or embarrassment. Help them see honesty as an act of courage and responsibility something worth striving for.

Source:https://www.pbs.org