When you are a new parent, it might be hard for you to let anyone other than your spouse handle that brand new baby. You might wince in terror as your mother struggles to comfort your new daughter, or starkly refuse when your grimy little brother asks to hold the baby. However, after awhile, most parents loosen up. Unfortunately, if you get too laid-back about childcare, you might make decisions that could impact your kid's education. My blog discusses several aspects of child care, so that you can decide what will work best for your family. After all, a few difficult decisions now could impact your kid for many years to come.
Finding Better Child Care
3 Ways To Deal With Your Toddler's Dishonesty
Encarnacion Alonso
When your toddler starts to lie to you, it can be hurtful and shocking. However, it is not an unusual occurrence. As your toddler starts to explore the world more and interact with others, he or she will likely experience a phase in which the truth and falsehoods are mingled together. Luckily for you and your toddler, the stage is usually temporary. To encourage your child to be more honest, here are a few steps you can take:
Avoid Displays of Anger
If you catch your child telling a lie, your first reaction should not be determined by anger. When you yell at your child, he or she will be reluctant to come clean in the future. Your response needs to be given in a calm manner.
If you are unsure that is possible at that moment, take a time out. After a few minutes of calming yourself, you can address the fabrication with your child.
Praise Honesty
When your child is honest, it is important that you acknowledge it. This is especially crucial when your child has told the truth about a particularly bad situation. Offering your child praise gives him or her encouragement to continue telling the truth.
You can choose to offer special rewards for consistently telling the truth if you believe that it will offer further encouragement. However, you have to be careful with the gift giving. The gifts can easily cross the line from rewards to bribes in the eyes of your child.
If your child attends daycare like Toddle Towne Learning Centers, ask the teacher to keep track of your child's honesty record. He or she should practice honesty everywhere and not just in the home.
Be Honest With Your Child
Your child pays close attention to everything you do and say. If he or she catches you telling an occasional white lie, he or she could be confused about whether or not being dishonest is right or wrong. If you are telling him or her to be truthful, but telling lies, you could come across as a hypocrite to your child.
Therefore, it is important to be honest with your child at all times. Even if it is difficult to be completely honest in all situations, you have to remember your child is watching and modeling your actions.
Your child's daycare teacher can help you find other proven methods to overcome a toddler's dishonesty. For the most consistent management of the situation, work with the teacher to develop a plan to address the issue.
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