Books provide a unique opportunity to talk about important concepts with children in a way they can understand. Relatable characters and fun story lines put difficult concepts like honesty into terms a child can relate to and provide an opening for parents to talk to their children about the value of honesty.
“Doug-Dennis and the Flyaway Fib”
follows two friends enjoying a day at the circus, when things suddenly go all wrong. Doug-Dennis tells a fib about not eating all of his friend’s popcorn and the trouble starts there. After telling this small lie Doug-Dennis finds himself floating in space surrounded by other liars. In the end he must finally tell the truth to escape. The story is funny and engaging so that it will keep a child’s interest, but it is based on the importance of telling the truth.
In order for a children’s book to help start a conversation between a parent and a child, it must be a story a child can relate to. Most children have friends and have been caught in a situation like Doug-Dennis; they did something they shouldn’t have that might hurt their friend’s feelings or make them angry. After reading this book, asking your child if they have ever been in such a situation and inquiring about how they handled the situation is a great way to begin talking about the importance of honesty.
Children learn through play. In fact, it is commonly said that ‘the work of children is play’. This same basic concept can be applied to teaching through children’s literature. Children learn best when they are relaxed and enjoying themselves. You might think that it is better to sit a child down and talk to them about the importance of honesty, but reading a fun book like “Doug-Dennis and the Flyaway Fib” and discussing it casually with your child is likely a much more effective strategy. Children are not able to learn as adults and even teenagers learn. Short attention spans mean that in order to teach a child best, you must make the extra effort to engage and entertain them. Well-written children’s books make this easier.
If teaching your child important values like honesty is important to you but you are not sure where to begin, start by choosing well written books like “Doug-Dennis and the Flyaway Fib” and see where the conversation goes after reading the book. You might be surprised at how easy it is to take such a serious concept and help your child grasp it. Primrose Schools, a positive preschool environment where classrooms are disguised as playrooms. http://www.primroseschools.com
Jessica
One of my fondest parent memories is riding crammed in the front of a Ryder moving truck with my husband and our two preschool children on our way to our new home in Northern Idaho. We had no hand held devices with which to play games or watch movies. So, what do you do with two small children for 3 very long days on the road? You read them 
. During that trip Wilbur and Charlotte became our very good friends and, I have to admit, I did tear up when I read about Charlotte's death.
. Wait a minute! Winnie-the-Pooh is a character in a book? I was so excited that I checked it out and went home to spend some quality time with my favorite silly old bear.
is also a good starting point for a unit study on bears or bees. Be sure and finish your reading time with toast topped with honey and a discussion of the wisdom of a bear of little brain.
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