A study published in Nature Human Behaviour found that showing trust in young children can actually make them more honest.
Researchers from the University of Toronto, Hangzhou Normal University, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education discovered that when adults gave children small responsibilities and showed them trust, the children were less likely to cheat.
This research is important because it shows that even young children recognize when others trust them. They pick up on social cues and are motivated to respond in positive ways when they feel trusted.
Understanding the Research
The goal of this study was to learn whether showing trust in young children influences their honesty. Researchers wanted to know if children would behave more honestly when they felt trusted, rather than simply following rules or fearing punishment.
To explore this, the team focused on familiar situations from children’s daily lives, using small but meaningful tasks that the children can relate to. They conducted a series of field experiments with 328 kindergarteners.
The children, with an average age of about six, were given small responsibilities, such as holding keys for an adult, to see how these trust-based interactions would affect their behavior on later tasks.
These were the key findings:
Children who were clearly trusted by adults tended to be more honest and were much less likely to cheat on a counting activity.
Being given small responsibilities, such as holding keys, had a noticeable impact on children’s honesty.
Even at a young age, children picked up on trust cues and understood what others expected of them.
According to one of the researchers, these results add to previous research by showing that children don’t just choose carefully whom to trust — they also notice when someone trusts them.
Practical Strategies for Parents and Caregivers
As parents, we want our children to grow up honest and responsible. This research is especially interesting because it shows that even a small act (like expressing trust or giving a simple responsibility) can make a real difference.
Create routine opportunities for responsibility
Give your child small, manageable tasks every day, like putting toys away, setting the table, or feeding a pet. You can start with one simple task at a time, then gradually increase responsibility as your child shows reliability.
If you want to talk about responsibility with your child, our All About Responsibility handout is a helpful guide. It explains the benefits and includes age-appropriate examples.
User positive reinforcement to guide their behavior
It’s important to notice when your child behaves honestly or makes a good choice. Whether it’s admitting a mistake or completing a task responsibly, praising them helps them understand that you value the behavior. As a result, your child is more likely to repeat it.
Let your child complete tasks without hovering
You might be tempted to constantly check or step in while your child is completing a task, but this can make them feel that you don’t trust their abilities. Stepping back shows that you believe in them.
Here’s a helpful tip: Quietly observe from a distance and only offer guidance when truly needed. This way, they’ll learn problem-solving while feeling trusted.
Express confidence verbally
Simple statements like “I trust you to handle this” or “I know you can do it” send a powerful message. Pair your words with an encouraging tone to make your trust feel genuine. You can also explain why you trust them, such as, “You’ve done this before really well, so I know you can do it again.”
Zhao of Hangzhou Normal University adds that instilling trust in children can be a great way to encourage integrity, instead of using fear or strict rules.
Check out our Character Education posters to support your child’s growth in honesty, responsibility, and trust. They provide visual reminders to reinforce positive character traits every day.
