The Truth Sets Kids Free

Who can you trust? Who's telling the truth? Today the truth is hard to know.

You want your child to be honest, but how? 

First, go back to your childhood. Remember a time when you told a lie and felt guilty. Were you plagued by regret and fear? Did you worry that you'd be found out and get punished?

Lies can torment your child too.

I remember those feelings. I didn't know how to face up to what I'd done. This article will help you teach your child how to tell the truth and avoid guilt.

You CAN Help Your Child Choose Truth Over Guilt.

Today's article shares:

• 8 painful results from lying
• 7 positive effects for being truthful
• 6 honesty strategies
• 5 moral dilemmas to discuss
• 10 self-talk rhymes to repeat

Feel free to choose the ones that are most helpful.

 

 

You Can Help Your Child Choose Honesty.

Your Parenting Tips Are Here:

The Honest Child - 35 Parenting Tips Teach Truthfulness

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You Can't Plug Your Ears to Tattletales.

Frustrated parents dread tattling. The squeals from crying kids disturb peace, upset nerves, and demand attention.

You can’t plug your ears and hope it will go away. You must act. But how?

Today’s Slide Share Offers You:

• The best question to ask tattlers
• 6 tips parents can easily use
• 7 examples that teach kids the difference between tattling and telling

What Tattletale Kids Need to Know:

1. The purpose of tattling is to get someone in trouble.
2. The purpose of telling is to help someone in trouble.
3. Parents don't like tattling. They do like telling.
4. Kids can solve problems with the right assertiveness tools from parents. See video below.

How Parents Teach Kids The Difference Between Tattling and Telling:

You can give them discussion dilemmas and ask, “Is this tattling or telling?” Here are a few you can use right now.

 

Is This Tattling or Telling?

1. Logan’s not playing fair.
2. Harper got stung by a bee.
3. Mia’s making fun of me.
4. Aiden tore up my homework.
5. Sofia called me a name.
6. Luke was hit by a rock.
7. Zoey’s mocking me.
8. Jack called me a liar.
9. Sam stole money from grandma’s purse.

Discuss each situation. Find out how your child thinks. If he is wrong, tell him, “I need to know when someone is hurt, in danger, needs help, or did something serious like stealing.”

“But if it’s a squabble between you and the other person, do your best to solve it. Then come and tell me how you did it. I’d like to hear your solution."

You don’t have to plug your ears. You do need to act because your children need to learn the difference between tattling and telling. They need to learn how to solve their tattling problems too.

Your Tattling Slide Share Tips:

For the 6 parenting tips and 7 new examples of tattling or telling go to Stop The Tattling - 6 Positive Parenting Solutions The pictures will help your child decide. 

 

You CAN Stop the Tattling!

You might also like this video because it give kids tools for solving their squabbles:

How Parents Teach Assertiveness Skills to Kids

To refresh the 7 tips for listening to your child's solutions:

These 7 Tips Turn Tattletales into Problem-Solvers

 

Listen to Your Child's Solutions. It's Rewarding!

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Broad-Minded Parents Help Kids Think Outside the Box.

It’s easier to unlock kid’s brains when parents are open to new ideas.

Today, we’ll look at 3 traps for close-minded parents and 3 advantages for being an open parent. We’ll also share 2 examples from your children’s lives that you can use immediately. They'll help your kids open their minds. At the end you'll find a new SlideShare with 7 open-minded discussion questions. I hope you'll use them with your children.

Narrow-Minded Parents Fall into 3 Traps When They:

1. Stop listening they end up turning their kids off.
2. Judge their children harshly when they don't agree.
3. Demand their kids think the same way they do.

When kids aren’t heard, feel judged, and experience mind control, they can:

1. Feel resentment toward parents.
2. Plug their ears.
3. Keep their real thoughts to themselves.

3 Advantages of Open-Minded Parents

1. They listen well which gives their children the attention and respect they want.
2. They receive respect from kids who may open their ears in return.
3. They find out what their kids really think and can better guide them.

How to Solve 2 Childhood Problems with Open Minds

 

Many Kids Engage in Bedtime Battles.

When parents are open to hearing their youngsters ideas, kids can look at bedtime decisions with fresh eyes.

Ask: “Should kids have the same bedtime on weekends as school nights?”

1. Let them share all their opinions, even if you don’t like them. Just listen.
2. Ask them to list all the reasons for the opposite side. Just listen.
3. Tell them to blend the best of both sides so both of you can accept them.
4. Now it’s your turn to share your opinions and the opposite side. Then blend the best of both.
5. Search for a compromise with your child. Take all the time you need.

Suggest you both try the new solution for a couple of weeks.

Signs that you both still need to compromise may be:

1. Your student doesn’t get up on time.
2. Your child yawns from tiredness at school and home.
3. Your child is cranky during the day because he’s tired.

Remember, when children get to participate in the rules, they are more likely to follow them.

 

Does Your Child Like Responsibilities?

Responsibilities restrict freedom. Yet to have a freedom, there is a matching responsibility. Here are some to consider:

1. Freedom to watch TV or play video games could mean completing homework first.
2. Freedom to eat a snack could mean cleaning the mess afterward.
3. Freedom to own a dog means feeding her and taking her for walks.

Discuss with your youngster more freedoms with related responsibilities.

Ask: “Is it important for kids to have responsibilities?”

1. Listen well as your child shares both pro and con ideas.
2. Ask questions that help your child think more deeply.
3. Give your ideas when your student is finished.
4. Ask, “Is there is a household responsibility you’d like to discuss?” If so, use the 2-sided method we used with the bedtime discussion.
5. Insist on respect throughtout.

Summary – How Parents Open Closed Minds

The advantages of being an open-minded parent are mutual listening, great discussions and acceptable solutions. Helping your kids see more than their point of view teaches them to become problem solvers and wise compromisers who think outside the box. Their brains won’t be chained to stubborn thinking either.

 

Open-Minded Discussions Promote Broad-Minded

Children

Enjoy this SlideShare with additional questions for teaching open-mindedness with delightful discussions. The transcript is included. Feel free to copy it.

How Smart Parents Raise Open-Minded Kids

https://www.slideshare.net/JeanTracyMSS/how-smart-parents-raise-open-minded-kids

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Teaching Empathy Through Dilemmas

       Can Be Done

Childhood dilemmas help your kids think more deeply about choices.  They can teach empathy too. 

In this post, Carter is a math whiz. But he didn't study for his test and he couldn't remember how to solve some problems. He secretly pulled out his calculator and cheated. 

Ask your child questions like:

1. Can you understand Carter's feelings? Please explain.

2. What thoughts might have helped Carter to avoid cheating?

3. Can you explain Carter's dilemma?

4. What advice would you give Carter? Why?

5. Have you ever faced a difficult dilemma where you had to make a quick choice?

6. Would you like to discuss it?

Having empathy for someone doesn't mean you agree with their behavior. Empathy can soften harsh judgments and can help the person deal with what they've done.

 

Understanding Others Is a Form of Empathy.

 

Meredith wanted to see an R rated movie, but her mother disapproved. Meredith's friends were going. So Mededith decided to take her mom's money from the cookie jar and sneak off with her friends. Her mother nabbed her in the act.

Ask your child:

1. Can you understand Meredith's feelings about seeing the movie with her friends?

2. How many solutions can you think of to help Meredith avoid stealing?

3. If Meredith's mom hadn't caught her, how might she have felt about taking the money?

4. What advice would you give Meredith?

5. Have you ever felt a strong desire to do something, but your parents disapproved?

6. If yes, can you talk about it?

Understanding others' problems can help your child forgive others when they've been wronged, enjoy a kinder heart, and accept herself when she makes her own errors in judgment.

When you chat with your child about childhood dilemmas, you teach character, understanding, and empathy for others. 

 

Kids Love to Share Their Thoughts with Parents Who

Listen.

When kids think through specific dilemmas, it helps them with decisions and choices because a similar problem may occur in their near future. Since they've already considered it in detail, they'll know better which choice to make.

Articles with Similar Helpful Content

Social Conscience: How to Use Moral Dilemmas Effectively with Kids

How Parents Build Character with Fun Moral Dilemmas

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Empathy CAN Be Taught

PARENTS CAN TEACH CHILDREN EMPATHY WITH SIMPLE DISCUSSIONS. Today you and your child will find a childhood behavior to discuss, what mindsets to avoid, and 7 easy steps for teaching empathy.  Use it to help your child grow into a caring person who understands others.

Ask your youngster to analyze this situation by asking, “What don’t we know?”

Sarah gave her friend, Jane, a friendly punch. Jane yelled, “Stop it!” and hit Sarah hard.

Ask your child, "What don't we know?"

Hopefully, she answered, “We don’t know why Jane hit Sarah back so hard.”

Many kids might judge Jane and call her names. But that would put Jane on the defensive and make her mad because no one wants to be judged harshly.

Rather than being a critical judge, ask your child to think of some positive reasons why Jane may have hit Sarah. Why positive?

Usually, when someone does something, even if it’s negative,  it’s for a positive reason. We call it the ‘positive intent.’ This is because the doer, (Jane) is getting something positive out of her behavior.

 

What Positive Reasons Do Kids Have for Acting Badly?

Here are some sample reasons:

1. Maybe Sarah told her class a big secret about Jane's family and Jane found out. Now Jane’s breaking off the friendship.

2. Maybe Sarah has given Jane too many friendly punches that have bruised her in the past. Now Jane’s showing her what it feels like to stop Sarah from punching her again.

3. Maybe Jane was ridiculed by her class for a wrong answer and she thought Sarah’s friendly punch was intended to tease her for it. Jane’s hitting tells Sarah her teasing isn’t funny.

Who knows why Jane reacted the way she did? We’re not mind readers. Only Jane really knows. 

But stepping into Jane’s shoes and trying to see the situation from her point of view, your child is on the path to understanding and empathy.

Tell your child, “It’s hard to feel empathy for Jane or anyone else if you’re judging with a mean critical mind.”

 

Your Child CAN Switch Her Critical Judgments  to

Understanding Thoughts

Rather than judge, teach your child to:

1. Switch your critical thoughts to exploring positive reasons why she did what she did.
2. Avoid calling names or making accusations.
3. Ask don't tell. "Why did you...? rather than, "You did it because..."
4. Listen without judgment.
5. Try to see her point of view.
6. Show empathy with understanding comments like, "I can see why you felt that way."
7. Suggest she apologize, if appropriate.

If you do, she just might follow your suggestion. All because you asked, listened and cared.

Another important point, when someone acts poorly and you understand why they did it, doesn't mean you agree with their negative behavior. It does mean you chose to understand it.

Use these steps, whenever your child tells you about another child’s negative behaviors. Your discussions will be interesting, and you’ll be teaching her to be an empathic person with an understanding character.

Watch this 2 minute video with 5 questions to help your child turn from criticism to empathy.

How Parents Teach Empathy to Kids

The Transcript with the 5 Questions is beneath the video at YouTube when you click Show More. 

Bonus Articles with Videos:

7 Ways to Encourage Positive Brain Power in Your Child   

The Positive Child - 18 Top Parenting Tips and Tools 

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OPEN-MINDED KIDS ARE SKILLED THINKERS. They learn to see more than one side of issues, problems, and discussions. They think bigger than one-sided kids.

How Sophie Opened Her Mind

I spoke with a 4^th grade girl, named Sophie, (Identity concealed) who told me how she changed her mind. Her teacher asked, “Should school be year-round?” Sophie said a loud, “No!”

But the teacher told the class to study both sides. Sophie did her research. This is what she found that could happen if school was year-round:

1. The school day would be shorter.
2. There would be more but shorter vacations.
3. There would be fun after-school programs.
4. Daycare wouldn’t cost parents so much because of the after-school programs. The 3-month summer vacation would be eliminated so no need for daycare then either.
5. Teachers wouldn’t need to waste time reviewing what the children forgot due to the summer vacations.

Sophie opened her mind to these new ideas. She decided “Yes,” school should be year-round.

Sophie had an open-minded teacher who asked open-minded questions. She taught kids to see issues from both sides. Each child was free to come up with their own conclusions.

The Difference between Open Minds and Closed Minds

 

Close-Minded Thinkers Won't Listen to New Ideas

Open-minded children don’t try to win arguments. They avoid stubbornly sticking to their own viewpoint. They are willing to change their opinions with new information.

Closed-minded kids won’t listen to others’ ideas. They believe they already know what’s best.

How Parents Raise Kids with Open-Minded Discussions

 

Sample Question: Should  Parents Make Kids Try

New Foods?

Be the parent who uses discussions to open your kids’ minds. Discuss topics that interest them. Get them to consider both the side they favor and the one they disagree with. When they have enough information, ask them what they favor  now and why. If you do, they'll become BIGGER thinkers.

For more parenting strategies and stories to raise your children's consciousness, read full article at: 

 9 Ways Parents Raise Open-Minded Kids

 

Be Sure to Praise Your Open-Minded Child

Popular Posts with Similar Topics:

Parenting: 2 Strategies for Raising Kids with Optimistic Characters

Parenting: Turning Fearful Kids into Confident Children

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  My friends won't include

 mean kids who are rude.

 

PARENTS, TEACH KIDS POSITIVE MOTTOES to repeat over and over and give your children a lifetime gift. How? Because when kids recite upbeat thoughts with repetition, those thoughts will likely come to mind when needed. Echoing good thoughts strengthens the brain paths on which they travel.

Powerful positive rhymes also reinforce those brainwaves. They are like the songs that stick in our heads. They are pleasant and can motivate us to act.

Today’s parenting gift includes 10 anti-bullying rhymes like:

1. I won’t bully others. They’re my sisters and brothers.
2. My friends won’t include mean kids who are rude.
3. A bullying tongue offends everyone.

 

A bullying tongue offends everyone.

 Get all 10 of these anti-bullying verses. Ask your child to pick his favorite. Suggest he say it often, post it on the fridge, and act on it when needed.

Better yet, have an anti-bully brainstorming dinner. Write down as many rhymes as your children can think of. Ask each child to choose the one they want to repeat and post it where they will see it as a reminder.

Pick up this powerful parenting present by inserting this code word:

SLOGANS

at:  

https://www.kidsdiscuss.com/subscriber-gifts.asp

Consider adding it to a 3-hole binder to use whenever it is needed.

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Your Child Can Stop Bullying!

IF YOU’RE THE PARENT OF A CHILD BULLY OR A BULLY-FOLLOWER AND YOU WANT TO BE SURE, open today’s parenting gift. It includes 10 bullying signs.

Yes, bullying has been around since people existed. Today it is not just calling someone a name. Child bullying includes using power to control another with insults, rumors, hitting, shoving, spitting, and tripping. Bullies reject their targets and ban them from their peer groups. Their intention is to hurt the other.

5 Steps to Changing Child Bullying Behavior:

1.  Acknowledge the truth. If you decide, “Yes, my child is a bully,” you are brave to admit it.

2. Increase your bravery by asking yourself, “Is anyone in my family modeling this behavior?”

3. Ask that member to stop the negative behavior. Remind that person your child is watching.

4. Discuss together better ways to model good behaviors that express your family values.

5. Use today’s bully checklist and chat about it's 10 points with your child.

 

Find Out What Your Child Really Thinks

  5 Bully Discussion Tips with Today’s Checklist:

1. Model respectful behavior.

 2. Ask, don’t accuse.

3. Find out what he thinks about bullying.

4. Help him see that helping is better than hurting others.

5. Work together on an anti-bullying slogan for his self-talk. Hang back so most of the slogan is from him. Why?      Because if it’s from him, he’ll be more likely to use it.

Download your parenting gift by inserting code word, BULLYING here:

Bully Checklist 

Even if you don't need it now, consider putting it in your parenting binder. You might need it in the future. Then nip bullying in the bud.

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"My Powerful Mind Is Thoughtful and

Kind."

WHY DO SOME KIDS BULLY OTHERS? Research says that bullying can give kids a sense of power and prestige. The bully wants to have others think he's important. When he hurts kids, he feels dominant and strong. It's hard for bullies to give up such feelings.

Some bullies come from abusive homes and treat others like they have been treated. 

Research also says that bullies pick on weak fearful kids. Children who are socially awkward, lack self-control, hyperactive, and don't fit in, become easy targets.

How Parents Can Help 

In today's article, How Parents Turn Bullies into Caring Kids, you can help both the bully and the bullied child. You will find:

•  7 signs your child could be a bully-follower
• 3 questions smart kids should ask about bullies
• 10 parent and child discussions about bullying
• 10 anti-bullying slogans for your child's self-talk 

 

When I See a Victim, I'll Go and

Assist Him.

Why not raise thoughtful children who help the kids who are picked on? Being proud of your children is such a great feeling. You'll be building character too.

Click on: How Parents Turn Bullies into Caring Kids 

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How Parents Help Kids Avoid Bullying

BULLIES BURN BRIDGES BY WHAT THEY SAY AND DO . They destroy connections like trust, friendship, and future relationships with their victims.

Bullying and Peer Pressure

By seeming powerful, bullies can influence other kids. Some children are afraid to say, “No” to the bully. Others follow because they want to "fit in."

Victims never forget how the bully made them feel nor do they forget who followed the bully’s pressure against them.  Being hurt physically, verbally, and/or emotionally, creates painful memories in the mind of the victim. They always remember. Some take revenge.

How Parents Can Help

Whether you suspect you are raising a bully or a bullied child, you CAN guide your child with good discussions.

Many children lack the experience to be wise about causing painful feelings and the importance of caring about others. You can raise their consciousness.

In today’s video, you will find 10 strategic questions to get your child to think more deeply about bullying, to consider the victim’s feelings, and to build the bridge of empathy.

As a bonus, you’ll also find 5 self-talk mottos to help your child choose caring and empathy over bullying.

Feel free to copy the transcript below the video with both the questions and mottos.

Family Discussions:

Use one question from the video per dinner discussion to find out what your child really thinks about bullying. Hold back from jumping in with your opinions. Listen well. Be sure you understand your child's thoughts before you speak.

Enjoy helping your children think wisely about the problems and pain that bullies cause because you CAN inspire them to choose caring instead.

Watch

 

Enjoy Helping Your Child Think

Clearly about Bullying

Bullying – How Parents Help Kids Choose Kindness 

or

https://youtu.be/BnULkHcVE2M

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