As children grow and develop they are faced with challenging situations that require them to make decisions. In these moments they can choose to do what is right, honest and thoughtful, or they can make a choice that has negative consequences. Sometimes negative influences like peer pressure can tempt children to make the wrong choice. Do your children understand the meaning of integrity? When faced with a tough decision will they make the right choice? The good news is that it is possible for parents to guide their children in the right direction by helping them understand the meaning of integrity and how they can demonstrate it in their daily lives.
Here are five powerful ways to help your children build a strong sense of integrity:
Talk About Integrity
In many homes, parents set the standard for their children when it comes to having good character and integrity. We encourage parents to spend time thinking about the virtues and moral beliefs that matter most to them. Once decided, it’s important that parents take the time to talk with their children about the meaning of integrity and set clear expectations. Setting moral and behavioral guidelines can help children gain a better understanding of how they should act and treat others. We encourage parents to discuss the meaning of integrity with their children and then create a list of important character qualities that they should strive to uphold. As a family, consider choosing the top three qualities from the list and use those to set moral and behavioral expectations. During the discussion, children will likely ask questions about integrity, honesty, and morals. We suggest that parents listen to their children’s questions and provide thoughtful answers to guide their sense of reasoning, empathy, and character in the right direction.
Describe Your Reasoning
Young children are usually concrete thinkers. They are able to understand what they can see, touch, hear and smell. However, describing abstract concepts like the idea of having good character and a strong sense of integrity can be confusing to children. It’s important to thoroughly explain to them how they should behave, react and treat others in a variety of situations. It’s important to explain the “why” when teaching your children about integrity. Consider explaining the importance of integrity by having discussions that start with, “This is why we don’t lie or steal…” Or, “The reason why we don’t cheat is because…” These types of statements can offer children a concrete perspective on the meaning of integrity and how they can apply integrity in their daily lives.
Share Examples
Consider using real-life examples to help children develop a strong understanding of character and integrity. Giving children examples of integrity is another great way to make the concept more concrete and easier for them to understand. Have you ever found someone’s lost wallet on the ground? If yes, what did you decide to do with that wallet? Consider sharing examples from your own experiences to help your children understand how they can act with integrity. Giving real-life examples can encourage children to use their imagination and visualize how they can demonstrate integrity in their daily lives.
Create Scenarios
Once you have shared a few examples and your children have a general idea of the meaning of integrity, consider creating real-life scenarios and asking for their input. What would your child do if they saw someone drop money out of their wallet? Would they keep it? Or, would they return the money to its rightful owner? Creating scenarios like this can encourage children to think about their own actions. It can also help parents determine if their children truly understand the meaning of integrity and honesty. When sharing real-life scenarios with children, we encourage parents to create a non-judgemental environment so that their children can comfortably share their thoughts and opinions. When asking for their input, it’s important to remember that parents are not testing their knowledge but instead exploring their sense of reasoning. The scenarios can help children learn about how to make the right choice and how to prepare for challenges they may face in the future like peer pressure.
Encourage Empathy
Sometimes in life, we have to make tough decisions that fall into a grey area, where the right decision may not always be clear. Parents can help their children prepare for these moments by helping them develop a strong sense of empathy. When children don’t know what the right choice is, they can ask themselves a few more questions to ensure a smart decision. For example, “How will my decision affect others?” Or, “How will my decision make others feel?” Questions like these can help children dive deeper into their sense of reasoning. When children can relate to those around them, when they can empathize, they often gain a better understanding of how their choices affect others. Parents can discuss this type of reasoning with their children and encourage them to be more empathetic so that they can make honest, sincere and thoughtful decisions.
So, we want to know, what does integrity mean to your family? Do you have any other unique ways to teach children about the importance of honesty, integrity and making the right decision? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
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Compass Charter Schools (CCS) is a WASC-accredited virtual charter school that serves families throughout California. Interested in learning more about CCS’ flexible academic programs? Visit our website, or contact our enrollment team at enrollment@compasscharters.org or (877) 506-8631.