Trust is a difficult idea to grasp. It can take a lifetime to cultivate, but only an instant to destroy. Also, its existence or absence profoundly affects a person’s level of contentment.
When you trust more, you worry less, and when you worry less, you tend to feel less worried and tense. To a large extent, parents are responsible for their children’s development of trust.
Security and trust are the cornerstones of a healthy, lasting relationship. Parent-child relationships strengthened by these qualities are better equipped to weather adversity.
Fostering love, security, and trust within the home is important to creating a positive environment for raising kids.
Strategies to building trust with your child.
1. Show some integrity
Even though it seems simple, if you want to build a trusting relationship with your child, you have to tell them the truth. Instead of pretending everything is fine when you’re sad, be honest and open with your child.
Just be honest about how you feel, even if you don’t feel like explaining the specifics of your sadness. Tell your kids how much you value honesty, and make sure they know it.
Your bond with your child will grow stronger and more trustworthy. Besides that, you’ll be guiding your kid toward a life of honor. Always be honest and forthright in your communication.
2. Avoid breaking your word
If you cannot honor a promise to your children, do not make it. Given the fluid nature of some situations, this cannot be easy. Yet, you should try your best to keep your word. This is because breaking a commitment to a child could have serious consequences for your relationship with the kid.
If you tell your child you’ll watch a soccer game on the weekend and then don’t follow through, they may question your word in the future. If you think you won’t be able to follow through on your promise, be honest with your child about it.
3. Treat them with respect
Encourage your child to continue talking by treating them with genuine compassion and attention. Give the kid your undivided attention to make them feel valued. The kid must learn to value themselves on par with everyone else.
When someone doesn’t treat others with dignity, we lose all faith in them. We often overlook a child’s emotional depth and sense of self-worth because of their seeming youth and innocence. They have good reason not to trust you if you insult them or don’t value their opinions.
4. Frank discussion
The single most crucial factor in earning someone’s trust is being truthful. A youngster will learn to distrust you if you use manipulative language or behavior against them. Young people have an innate sense of what is good and wrong.
Do not attempt to reframe the truth. You can do this while protecting an adult’s secret by explaining that there is a critical situation but you can’t share the information with the child because you love them too much.
A simple illustration, but the idea is there. You can’t ignore them; you should find a new way to convey things. In addition, reassure them that the situation will be resolved shortly and that they should not worry.
5. Consistency
Don’t only talk about having rules in the house; follow them yourself. Do your best to get your kids to buy into your standards. Don’t be a rule-change junkie if you want your kids to have complete faith in you.
6. Be a role model
A second valuable lesson in gaining people’s trust is to always follow through on promises. Children look up to their parents as role models, so when we make mistakes, they often make the same ones.
Infants and young children are naturally good at figuring out what people mean when they don’t say anything. They can pick up on emotions instantly and tell when we’re making excuses. Thus, do your best to stick to your word when you make a promise.
If you cannot follow through on your word, explaining well rather than making excuses is best. Recognize that you fell short of your promise without assigning blame. That would be a terrible example to set.
7. Promote openness and accountability
Keep in mind the importance of providing accurate information and acting responsibly at all times. If you know your child will have trouble following along, admitting that you can’t give them all the facts is okay.
Tell them you aren’t attempting to hide anything and are only being cautious to keep them safe. Keep your language straightforward and your word choice plain at all times. The more you distort the truth, the more they will be confused and suspicious.
8. Be receptive first
We often hear our kids but fail to truly listen to what they say. To begin, you should put yourself in a state of active listening. Attend carefully to the child’s explanations. Make no assumptions.
And before offering a remedy or passing judgment, make an extra effort to empathize with the child’s perspective. Recognize the child’s perspective and ascertain whether they are genuinely concerned or curious.
A kid often wants you to listen to what they say, possibly to help put ideas in some sort of order. This calls for an evaluation, not a diagnosis.
9. Put your own words into practice
Leadership and parent-child trust building share many similarities. If the leader acts ethically, the followers will follow. If you are not modeling that behavior, there is no point in telling your child to eat vegetables. Strengthen your relationship with your child by setting a good example.
Conclusion
Between a parent and a child, trust is essential. While the advice in this piece can be useful, it is ultimately up to you to put in the effort necessary to develop a trustworthy relationship with your child.
Trust and open dialogue require more than just words, though. Have open communication with your children and set high goals for them; they may surprise you.
Time spent establishing mutual trust is never squandered. Instead, you and your youngster commit to making the most of each day by engaging in meaningful activities and talking to one another openly and honestly.
Cherish these moments and know that you are helping to shape their character in ways that will serve them well.