Teaching Your Child to Tell the Truth

If you’ve ever heard the saying “honesty is the best policy,” then you know that telling the truth is important in all aspects of life. Telling the truth helps children grow and learn. Lying can have serious consequences, such as losing the trust of friends and family. White lies may not seem like a big deal, especially to children who don’t understand how they can escalate. It’s important to teach your child to be honest and give them grace if and when they slip up. Here are some ways we recommend teaching your child about honesty:

Start teaching honesty at an early age

When you teach your child the importance of honesty at a young age, it will become second nature as they grow older. You can teach them little by little, starting by explaining the difference between truth and lies. There is a fine line between being honest and being cruel. For instance, you need to teach them not to say something like “those glasses are ugly.” While it’s important to be honest, your child doesn’t need to say whatever comes to mind. Show them that honesty and kindness can go hand-in-hand. 

Emphasize the consequences of lying

Lying leads to negative outcomes, especially when children lie to avoid facing the consequences of their actions. For example, if a child does something wrong and blames someone else, the consequences might be greater once their lie is discovered. Lying can also lead to distrust, causing relationships to suffer. Teaching children about the negative consequences of lying will help them own up to their mistakes.

Teach them to be honest with themselves

One way to teach children to tell the truth is to help them understand how to be honest with themselves. If we are not honest with ourselves, we end up lying to other people in our lives, as well. Have a conversation with your child about the importance of being honest with themselves. Ask them to be honest about their feelings when something happens to them. This can help them process those feelings and teach them that being honest can benefit them just as much as it benefits others.

Be a role model for your child

To help your child understand honesty, be honest with your child. Being honest isn’t always easy for adults. However, when we are willing to be open with others and with ourselves, it helps build self-esteem and underscores the importance of honesty in our own lives. Also, it helps build better relationships because others will be willing to trust you and your character. Do your best to teach your child honesty by showing your child what honesty looks like. 

At our school, we emphasize the importance of honesty to all of our students. With over 57 years of academic excellence, St. Teresa Catholic School, a Titusville Catholic school, provides a quality education that challenges and empowers students to develop their full potential. Teachers foster qualities that are essential for lifelong learning and equip students for future success. To learn more about why St. Teresa is the perfect fit for you and your student, contact us today.