Honesty
Honesty and telling the truth
Instructions
- Introduce a child to the word honesty. Chat about what being honest means to the child. Remember that children watch and model adult behavior.
- Focus on telling the truth is one way to show you are honest. Reminding kids that it is important to tell the truth before you ask a question or about a situation, increases the chance that a child will tell the truth.
- Here are some questions to ask. Compliment child on answering the questions honestly. Encourage the child to use Yes or True or No and False as their answer to the question.
Is your name Orion (say child’s name)? The child responds true. Ask if that is an honest answer - are you telling the truth?
Are you a boy? The child responds false - if a girl. Ask if that is an honest answer - are you telling the truth?
Do you have 3 heads? The child responds false. Ask if that is an honest answer - are you telling the truth?
Do you have 2 feet? The child responds true. Ask if that is an honest answer - are you telling the truth?
Ask the child to go wash his hands. When finished, ask him if he washed his hands. The child responds true. Ask if that is an honest answer - are you telling the truth?
Simplify
Make two signs with one sign saying "True" or "T" and the other sign saying "False" or "F". Make up short stories and let the child show you the correct sign. For example, "I saw 3 mermaids on the street today" (False). OR "My bedroom is up in the sky." (False) OR "I have 5 fingers on my hand" (True) etc.
Switch roles and let the child ask the question and the adult hold up the correct sign.
Extend
Research shows that the ability to lie is a normal and important stage of cognitive and social development. By age 4 - all kids lie. Use stories where there is a positive consequence of being honest. This month we are working on the sense of hearing and this short story about George Washington and cutting down a cherry tree is perfect for listening and learning about being honest. Listen here.
QUESTIONS FOR CHILD
What do you notice when you forget to do something that your mom or dad asked you to do?
If you wrote a book, what would it be about?
Materials
- adult and child
Share This Activity
Curriculum Plan Resources
Skills Focus
- Shape - Heart
- Color - Review
- Number - Six, 6
- Alphabet Letters - H, P
- Senses - Hearing
- Character Trait - Honesty
- Target Words - Good-by, Many, Match, Why
Monthly Proverb
If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.
Did You Know?
"Children with below average language skills can make rapid improvements if their parents take simple steps to change the way they interact with them." University of Sydney
Books to Read
"Museum ABC"
by Metropolitan Museum of Art (Activity 11)
"My Very First Book of Shapes"
by Eric Carle (Activity 2)
"Big Red Barn"
by Margaret Wise Brown (Activity 8)
"My Very First Book of Shapes" VIDEO
by Eric Carle (Activity 2)
"Big Red Barn" VIDEO
by Margaret Wise Brown (Activity 8)
"Museum ABC" VIDEO
by Metropolitan Museum of Art (Activity 11)
Music Playlist
"Old MacDonald Had a Farm"
by Countdown Kids Album 100 All Time Children’s Favorites (Activity 10)
"SalveRegina - Antiphona (tonus monasticus) in Honorem Beatae Mariae Virginias"
Album Salve Regina Gregorian Chant by Benedictine Monks of the Abby of Saint-Maurice & Saint-Maur, Clervaux (Activity 21)
"You’ll Be In My Heart"
by Phil Collins Album Tarzan (Movie Soundtrack) (Activity 18)
"Old MacDonald Had a Farm" VIDEO
by Countdown Kids 100 Silly Songs (Activity 10)
'SalveRegina - Antiphona (tonus monasticus) in Honorem Beatae Mariae Virginias" VIDEO
by Benedictine Monks of the Abby of Saint-Maurice and Saint -Maur, Clervaux (Activity 21)
"You'll Be In My Heart" VIDEO
by Phil Collins Tarzan Movie Soundtrack (Activity 18)
Monthly Materials List
Click Here to view the list!
Fingerplay / Poems / Songs
Up Down Turn Around
(Activity 14 Month 8)
Up, down
Turn around.
Touch the sky,
And touch the ground.
Wiggle fingers
Wiggle toes
Wiggle shoulders
And say "hello"
Up, down
Turn around
Touch the sky,
And touch the ground.
Pat your belly
Blink your eyes,
Blow a kiss,
And say “good-bye “
I Need To Be Honest
(Activity 13 Month 8)
I need to be honest
My mom and dad say
And telling the truth
Is just one way!
Why be honest
I ask mom and dad.
You will feel your best
When the truth is always said.