How to Teach Kids That Cheating Is Wrong
Cheating is a big deal in any kid's life. Cheating can be as simple as looking at another person's paper in school to copy an answer, or it can be as involved as creating a plan to make someone else lose, for example, in a game. The majority of kids have an inner sense that cheating is harmful. However, they may not yet have the skills to avoid temptation and do what's right. People who care for kids can encourage honorable behavior through talking about cheating, and by presenting a model for honesty and applying consequences when appropriate.
Instructions
Learn why children cheat. Kids cheat to get a result. Some kids want to feel the satisfaction of winning, get a certain grade or please their parents or teachers. Others are not motivated to do their best on their own or do not fully understand about cheating. According to It's a Mom's World, there may be underlying reasons that kids cheat, such as the need for attention, peer pressure, to challenge authority, lack of self-control and wanting to please others. Talk to kids about these factors so they can develop self-awareness about their motivations to cheat or not cheat as well as make positive choices. Talk to your children or young students about cheating. Young kids under the age of seven may need some help understanding the difference between play and cheating. Be gentle with little ones, as they are still developing their sense of self and are not often trying to cheat. Discuss with older kids how you feel about cheating and what results it has in people's lives. Tell stories from your life or from people you know, such as the kid who cheated in a game and was made to sit out in the next three games. Ask children how they feel about cheating and what they can do instead. Children may be motivated by wanting to please others, maybe even you. Let them know you prefer they do their best on their own rather than through cheating to get a certain grade or to win at something. Model honesty with your kids and acknowledge good behavior. When kids are honest, be genuinely appreciative. It can be difficult as a parent or teacher to be grateful when a child has done something harmful, but it can demonstrate to them that honesty is more important than anger. Kids who see parents being honest and not trying to cheat their way to a specific result are likely to follow in those same footsteps. Take notice when you yourself are tempted to take a shortcut or cheat your neighbor or a co-worker in some way. Stop, make a change and talk honestly with your child about your experience and how you truly feel about cheating. Set an example: Your actions are the best lesson. Discuss the consequences of cheating. Enter the discussion with an open mind and trust that kids really do want to do their best without cheating. Children's Physician Network notes that cheating lowers a kid's sense of self-respect, is not fair to other kids and violates trust. There are certain consequences when it comes to cheating and they increase in severity with age. Children who cheat in school often get a reduced grade, cannot participate in extracurricular activities and damage friendships. Older kids may receive in-school detention or be removed from classes. Avoid using these consequences as scare tactics. Focus instead on helping children become aware of the cause and effect of cheating so they can make choices that work more positively for them.
