Teaching Your Child the Importance of Honesty

It is quite easy to say that no one likes a liar; however, teaching your child the importance of honesty isn’t always a simple thing to do. We want our children to be straightforward and honest in everything, but how do we instill in them just how important honesty is? Teaching them to be honest, yet tactful, is something else entirely.

In Hebrew, the word for parent is “horah” which translates “instructor” or “guide”. Parents are to be their child’s first teacher. We are given the job of instilling values and character in our children; this includes honesty, morality, love, and many other character traits.

Express to your child how important it is to always be honest. Verbally praise them when you find that they are honest. Tell them that you appreciate their honesty and thank them for respecting your instructions. If they are dishonest, don’t demean them, but do express your dissatisfaction in their choice not to be honest.

More than anything else let them see how important honesty is to you by modeling honesty before them. If someone calls and you don’t want to talk with them, don’t ask your child to tell them you’re not there. Take the call, explaining that you can’t speak long, and then end the call as quickly as you can. Try to be aware of your actions; many may be an indirect way of teaching your child about honesty.

Children need to know that being dishonest is not only hurtful to themselves and others, it can also erode trust between the two of you. This mistrust may curtail their ability to participate in some activities because you don’t know if you can trust them to do as they’ve agreed. If you can’t trust that they’ll return at a particular time, you’re not as likely to allow them to go.

Teach your children about the boy who “cried wolf”. After crying “wolf” so many times and there wasn’t really a wolf, the people no longer trusted his word. When a wolf finally did arrive, the people didn’t come to help the boy. Dishonesty breeds distrust.

Ask your child how they felt when someone else lied to them. Did they feel good about it? Were their feelings hurt? Did they feel betrayed? All the feelings they felt are how others feel when they are being lied to. Help them understand that they have the power to be honest and keep others from feeling betrayed.

Most importantly, never give your child a reason to mistrust you. If you make a promise to them, follow through on the promise, even if doing so might cost you something. The only time breaking a promise is acceptable is when an emergency arises, and then you need to follow through as soon as possible.

It takes consistency and dedication when teaching your child the importance of honesty. Model honesty for them, and they’ll quickly learn of it’s importance and how much it is expected of them. Then step back and watch your child’s character continue to grow.