When it comes to having a good family life the importance of honesty within it cannot and should not be underestimated. Especially as your kids grow older honesty becomes an even bigger thing as without it you will struggle to trust your child and potentially each other. Honesty must work both ways and here we have a few tips on encouraging honesty within your family and how it is such a valuable thing for family life.

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Communication is key- Families need to be open and truthful with each other even when it seems like the hardest thing in the world to be. Avoid been two-faced and chatting about your partner or kid to another family member as this builds up to conflict. Instead tell the person you have an issue with head on and while be respectful of their feelings you must ensure they understand your state of mind. Communicating well will show your kids the best course of action too.

Let white lies go- Your child will tell white lies and this is perfectly normal. However, giving out to your child for saying they made their bed when they didn’t is a bit of a fruitless task. Children will tell white lies but if they aren’t going behind your back and outright lying you are on the right track.

Be approachable- If your kids consider you to be calm and approachable they will come to you if they have a problem. Telling your children that they can come to you with any problem means they will know you mean it and therefore trust in you.

Don’t lose the head if mistakes are made- As well as being approachable you shouldn’t lose the head if your child does tell a lie to cover for a mistake or something else. A kiddie will lie if they are scared of their parent’s reaction so proving yourself to being calm is a good way to build trust with your kiddies.

Encourage your kiddie to tell the truth- It may not always be easy but your kid should know that telling the truth will save you a lot of heartache. Usually if you lie it will hang over you and covering it up can be stressful. Sometimes you are better off putting your hands up and admitting you messed up and deal with it there and then.

Be a good role model- Kids learn from their parents so if they observe your honest ways and openness they will follow suit. Be kind with your words even if the truth is painful and learn to communicate well with your kids and family.

Have regular family chats- A family that can talk together will stay together. This will build their bonds and instil a great family value of honesty. It may not always be easy to uphold but families are more than able to be honest and open with one another. It might just take some practice; that is all!