| The goal of teaching honesty is to help children | | | | Boy who Cried Wolf to the children. |
| establish positive positive and trusting relationship | | | | Discuss the story and the consequences that the |
| with others and be happy with what they have. | | | | shepherd boy had to face. Also talk about how |
| Children need to be aware of what is right and | | | | the villagers felt. |
| appropriate of their personal role, behaviour and | | | | Talk with the children about what honesty is and |
| their relationship with others. Children will | | | | the difference between the truth and a lie. Have |
| understand that honesty means telling what really | | | | them verbalise the differences to you. |
| happened, keeping their promises and that if they | | | | Relate to children's experiences by asking the |
| are honest, they will feel good inside them. | | | | following: a) Has anyone ever told you something |
| Points to consider when encouraging honesty in | | | | that was not true? b) How did you feel when you |
| young children: | | | | found out that it was not true? c) Do you trust |
| 1. Do not over-react if children exhibit dishonest | | | | that person to tell you the truth now? Why and |
| behaviour. Giving too much attention may actually | | | | why not? d) Have you ever worry about telling |
| reinforce it, and they become inclined to repeat it. | | | | the truth because you thought it would get you |
| 2. Avoid being punitive. Children who are being | | | | into trouble? |
| punished often would most likely lie or steal. | | | | 2. Play The Dilemma Game |
| 3. Discuss misbehaviour when you are calm and | | | | - Encourage children to make the right decision |
| children feel non-threatened. | | | | when faced with a dilemma. |
| 4. Be sensitive. On the one hand, children must | | | | Use 2 card boards and glue them together around |
| not think that morally unacceptable conduct is all | | | | the edge. Then make 8 windows on one side and |
| right; on the other hand, they should not be | | | | write the following mini stories and questions |
| frightened to a degree that they are afraid to | | | | under each window.a) Bob picked up a toy car |
| admit and discuss it with you. | | | | outside his neighbour's house. What should he |
| 5. Attempt to prevent dishonest behaviour from | | | | do?b) You were at a toy shop and saw a young |
| ever arising. | | | | girl put a lollipop into her pocket. What must you |
| 6. Establish a positive parent-child relationship. | | | | do?c) John found a dollar note on the floor at |
| Children need to feel safe to be frank, open and | | | | school. What should he do?d) Jane was riding on |
| dishonest with their parents. Children who feel | | | | her brother's bike and ran into a pole. The bike is |
| secure and accepted seldom see the need to lie. | | | | broken. What should she do?e) Mary wrote on |
| 7. Do not put children on the spot when they | | | | the kitchen wall with a crayon. Her mother asked |
| have found to have stolen or lie. Doing so would | | | | who did it. What should Mary say?f) James ate all |
| create the need for them to deny and lead to an | | | | the cookies mother made for his sister's birthday |
| unpleasant, head-on confrontation. | | | | party. Mother asked who did it. What should |
| Activities for Parents | | | | James do?g) Jill saw some boys teasing a |
| 1. Read The Story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf | | | | younger child. What should she do?h) The salesgirl |
| - Help children recognise the consequences of not | | | | charged your father for 1 sandwich when he |
| telling the truth. | | | | actually bought 2. What should he do? |
| Read and show the Aesop's fable story of The | | | | |