Learning About the Truth with Kids

This day, which incorporates beliefs and actions we should really do all day, EVERY day, is celebrated on April 30 of each year.

What is Today All About?

Today challenges us to be truthful in all that we do! We should be truthful to our coworkers, our neighbors, our friends, and even with our own children. In short, we should be honest with everyone we come across. By taking control of our action and words, and by being intentional about speaking the truth, we will inspire kindness and confidence in others.

This special day also encourages and inspires politicians (who are unfortunately often known for spinning the truth) to stay away from lies and to opt to tell the truth instead! Some businesses even receive awards on this day for being honest and truthful throughout the year.

The Origin of National Honesty Day

National Honesty Day was created in the 1990s by M. Hirsh Goldberg, the author of The Book of Lies. He is a former press secretary for a governor in Maryland. He decided this day should exist as a contrast to all the foolishness that April Fools’ Day, the first of this month, brings!

Celebrating National Honesty Day

The best way to take advantage of today with your children is to just make them aware of the importance of kind honesty! Discussions are a very powerful tool for doing so.

• Encourage your child to tell someone what they like about him/her. Have them tell the positive truth that they might not normally make the time and effort to share.

• Have a conversation about the benefits of telling the truth. On the other hand, what are the consequences of lying and being deceitful?

• Something to ponder: How often do you/your child lie? Why do you lie? Do you think white lies are okay? What would you like your child to know about this act of telling a white lie?

Children’s Books About Honesty

Sometimes kids respond better to hearing lessons about morals and behavior from someone besides their parents…we get it! In that case, we rounded up a list of some of the most impressive children’s books that cover this topic of truthfulness.

• The I in Integrity
• A Little Spot of Honesty
• Finn’s Little Fibs
• I Didn’t Do It!
• Honesty is my Superpower
• Tell the Truth, B.B. Wolf
• The Berenstain Bears and the Truth
• The Sad Little Fact
• Facts vs. Opinions vs. Robots

All in all, being truthful is about being kind, so let’s implement this practice today and every day!