It is said that children are the most trusting people in the world. In the general sense, this is probably true. On a more personal level though, it takes more than being related or being known to a child to gain his or her continuing trust.
In the traditional way of bringing up children, parents are expected to earn their trust by the responsibilities performed in the name of parenthood. It is impossible for trust not to develop as children feel the care and love that can only come from parents. In the course of bringing up a child however, there may be hindrances and obstacles that can come up that can create doubts and mistrust.
Honesty is the Best Policy
The old adage that says honesty is the best policy is also applicable to children. When a child asks something, it is always best not to tell a lie since circumstances will have a way of revealing the truth. The danger in finding out the truth from another source aside from the parents is that they may constitute incomplete truths. This can be more confusing to a child. It is possible that they may only understand the part their parents did not tell them the truth and not why. Parents must strive to be honest and give answers that are age-appropriate and then try to explain more as they grow older.
Consistency is the Key
Trust in a person is developed when there is consistency between words and actions as well as the decisions taken through different times and situations. When house rules are established, parents should be able to implement them with consistency not only on their children but also on themselves. Changing rules often to accommodate violations even if seemingly advantageous to a child will not be able to form the foundation of trust.
Listening and Availability
There can be no better picture of a person worthy of trust than a listening parent who is physically available for the child. Knowing that the parent will be there when needed is a great confidence-booster for any child. This is especially so for parents who keep their promises.
The value of trust cannot be underestimated in parent-child relationship. It builds a bond that will stand the test of time. It is my belief that if we gain our children’s trust, we will never lose our children to bad influence for they will know that they cannot afford to lose our trust as well.
Originally posted on September 19, 2013 @ 7:00 am
