Teach a Child Honesty - wikiHow

Teach a Child Honesty - wikiHow

How to Teach a Child Honesty

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

"Honesty is a dead virtue! All human beings are sinners!"Well,not necessarily.I believe all human beings are innately good.How else would you explain love or sacrifice?Too high sounding?

Well,sample this.How do you feel after you perform a good deed?Something as simple as cleaning your room to slightly bigger tasks,like,volunteering for charity work.Lighter?Happier?Why is a smile contagious?

As human beings,we like to see the good things in the world.It is constant cautioning about the bad elements and negative conditioning from the more "experienced" that make us suspicious and bitter adults.

Children aren't prone to cynicism.They believe in Santa Claus and Tooth fairies.Even when their belief system/fantasy is broken at a later stage in life,they cherish the good old memories associated with it.

How often we wish if we could get back those simpler times.Times that gave us hope of good people in the world.Children are the best vehicles for propogating the change we want to see in the world.

Steps

1. Teach them virtue of honesty by narrating short stories about superheroes and characters who rose to the occasion without compromising on values and defeated the bad people.Childhood memories leave indelible impressions on the subconcious mind.

Cater to their curiosity and encourage their inquisitiveness by answering their questions as honestly as possible. Sure,sometimes, things might get embarrassing,based on the level of the child's curiosity.But teach them tact,not dishonesty.

It is a common fact,that home is the first educational centre for a child.And children learn to lie by imitating their parents.Avoid this as much as possible,unless,it is in their interest,and not yours.

When a child confesses to some mischief or wrong doing,do not punish him/her.Instead appreciate his/her honesty and let him/her off with a stern warning.

If punishment is unavoidable,then make it extremely clear that while his/her honesty was appreciated,the deed is what deserves the punishment.Never send the signal that muddles up their notion that "being honest will lead to punishment,so why bother?"

In today's world of cut throat competition,being truthful might not always be practical.And sometimes,it can be downright suicidal.BUt teach your child,that while fibbing is bad,to lie to protect someone's life,or perhaps to protect someone from hurt feelings , is equally necessary.

Ancient Indian mythology says,"A lie told to protect someone,if far better than a 100 truths that will destroy him/her"

If your child has got the right message, he/she will grow up to be a wonderful human being,with empathy and compassion.And most of all,a genuine concern for every living and non-living thing that exists.

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Teach a Child Honesty. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.