Parents and teachers should work with children to present age-appropriate explanations regarding what constitutes honesty or lying. Concepts such as telling the truth, respecting authority and keeping promises are important at any age. Children should be encouraged to understand that many rules exist for their own safety, so following the rules and being honest will help keep them safe. Problem-solving skills, such as open communication, are also a critical part of developing trustworthiness in your child or student.
Offering clear rules with clear consequences helps children understand basic expectations. Enforce rule consistently to help a child understand the relationship between action and consequence. A clear system of rules helps children understand what is acceptable and what is unacceptable, so over time they will develop a clear sense of how to identify unacceptable behaviors and how to avoid them. Children should also be encouraged to admit to and learn from mistakes.
Parents and teachers can use TV programs or books to discuss personal values of honesty and trustworthiness. Pick TV shows or books with themes and characters the child will enjoy and relate to. Watch or read together and discuss the story line and decision-making of the characters. Children can often use these scenarios to understand how trustworthiness can build stronger relationships and how they can avoid negative consequences associated with breaking the rules or lying.
Modeling positive, trustworthy behavior is an essential part of teaching children the value of honesty and trust. Keeping your promises and admitting when you make mistakes helps a child understand how these principles work in the real world. For example, if you promise to take your child to the park and you have to work instead, talk to the child honestly about why you cannot keep your promise and how you can solve the problem by possibly rescheduling. Acknowledging your commitments and acting in a fair and responsible manner teaches children that you are trustworthy and models how they can develop the same behaviors.