Trustworthy and Honest Kids
Trustworthy and honest kids are respectful and reliable. They’re worthy of our trust because they’re truth-tellers. Honesty is a virtue!
Most kids are trusting by nature. They typically believe what the people they love tell them. It’s our responsibility as parents to live up to the challenge of being honest and trustworthy with our kids and to model trustworthiness in our everyday interactions.
Honesty is sincerity and fairness. An honest person is truthful, honorable, and authentic. Dishonesty breaks trust and takes a lot of time to rebuild with adults and children, especially with family members. Forgiveness and reconciliation are part of an honest, loving relationship. We want our children to know we as parents are worthy of their trust.
Use these tips to encourage your children to be honest and trustworthy.
Raising Honest Kids
- Model truthfulness, trustworthiness, and authenticity.
- Expect honesty from all family members. Lies are never okay.
- Demonstrate forgiveness and make amends to restore relationships.
- Praise truthfulness and honesty.
- Assist children in discerning fantasy from reality.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence,
if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Philippians 4:8
Here’s my recommended reading list for young children on the topic of honesty.
Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie by Laura Rankin
Honesty: The Best Me that I Can Be by Rose Angebrandt
The Berenstain Bears Say I’m Sorry by Mike Berenstain
I Didn’t Do It: A Book About Telling the Truth by Sue Graves
The Berenstain Bears: The Forgiving Tree by Jan & Mike Berenstain
© 2023 Becky Danielson. All rights reserved.
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