How to Help Children Develop a Basic Attitude of Trust

If you want your child to learn the basic attitude of trust, then you have to take advantage of the first few years of her life. According to Angela Reinhart, family life educator from the University of Illinois, it̵7;s these years that are the most formative when it comes to teaching your child how to trust. You are the most influential person in your child̵7;s life, which means it is during these years that you must respond to your child and her needs in a trusting manner if you want to instill that basic attitude in her.

Instructions

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      Model trust and good behavior for your child, advises the Children̵7;s Trust, a program designed to bring families together and offer advice to parents. Kids learn by example, and if you are not trusting and trustworthy, chances are pretty good they will not be either. For example, if you want to instill a basic attitude of trust in your child, model it by being trustworthy. Do what you say. Be there for your child. Mean what you say and answer his questions honestly. Kids are pretty good judges of character and they often know when mom and dad are not being trustworthy.

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      Create simple rules and boundaries and be consistent in disciplining your child if she breaks the rules, advises Reinhart. Children learn trustworthiness by understanding that you will keep them safe and take care of them. This includes providing rules and discipline. When you follow through in maintaining the rules and the discipline you promise your child should she not behave, it teaches your child to develop trust that you will keep her safe and that you will guide her behavior.

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      Keep your word, continues Reinhart. Just because your child is young does not mean you can break your promises and not keep your word; this is a surefire way to ensure your children do not learn how to trust you. For example, if you promise to take your child to the park this weekend, then take her to the park this weekend. Trust is established through keeping your word. This helps your child understand that when you make a promise, you keep it.

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      Keep in mind that your child may witness dishonesty you are not aware of, advises the Children̵7;s Trust. For example, it may not occur to you that your child̵7;s trust in you can be broken with a simple comment. Say you answer the phone and tell a friend that you can̵7;t talk right now because you are running out the door to run errands and your child hears you. It̵7;s fine if you are running out the door to do errands but if you aren̵7;t, your child is more likely to develop an attitude of distrust.

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