As a Teacher or a Parent, can you think of situations where your child carrying an expression of being unsure and try to make up little stories to convince you? If a child is not able to openly tell you the exact story, Is this because of fear, anxiety, or confusion? What can we do as Teachers & Parents of Pre-school children to make a difference in a child’s early year foundation?
Pre-school children of age group between 2-6 years, can have significant influence from teachers and parents on their openness, honesty & integrity. Children are sometimes not able to open up as they are afraid of punishment. Your response will teach them to be honest or to hide. When children are young, they are still learning the difference between the truth, stories, and lies. One of the best ways to help them learn the difference and to begin perceiving conscience through guiding children with good life skills and practices around being ‘Honest’.
How do you respond when your child lies? How did your parents respond when you lied as a child and how do you feel it impacted your views on honesty and truthfulness? In some ways, lie-telling is evidence that kids have reached important developmental milestones because it requires both cognitive and social maturity, at the same time, at an early stage, it is important for Teachers & Parents we guide the children by helping them understand how honesty can help them in developing wonderful life skills and great relationships. This can be achieved in Pre-schools by encouraging openness and creating a loving atmosphere and consistently teaching the values of honesty in a more practiced approach.
Being trustworthy helps strengthen relationships, especially children’s relationships with their family, teachers, and friends. But dishonesty, such as lying to parents or cheating in games with friends or on tests at school, can lead to conflicts and sometimes reflects larger problems. They confront their kids accusingly with anger or threats. But if you’re harsh and punitive, they’re afraid to tell you the truth. If you make it safe for them, they will be honest. So be firm on honesty and gentle with your kids.
Encouraging your child, to tell the truth, is important, but what should you do if you know they are lying? Don’t label your child a liar. That won’t help your child embrace truth-telling. Instead, share what you know about a situation, explain that you expect honesty, and give your child a path forward by finding a way for them to make amends. In some situations, it may help to acknowledge the feelings behind their lie, such as fear, anxiety, or embarrassment. Help them see honesty as an act of courage and responsibility, this is certainly something worth striving for.
How can we make a difference?
At CRUST Pre-school & Daycare (The best Pre school in Kasturi Nagar Bangalore), we believe in developing the value of being honest with each Child, by providing a happy atmosphere for the child so that children can be open to communicate without fear and feel encouraged. We hope to make a difference in children’s early year education by laying foundations for the children to be happy individuals by building great relationships.
Author:
Divya Addala
Founder
Crust Pre-school Daycare