How to teach a child to keep secrets

If your baby less than 6 years old - you don't even have to try to convince him to keep his mouth shut. By about 6-7 years of age, a child is more aware of the importance of a secret, but he can blab it by accident or without thinking.

And only closer to adolescence, the child can be relied on. But how to bring this moment closer and teach the child to keep secrets?

1. Secrets - Family Safety

Explain that you should not tell anyone outside of your home about the family's life. Including about money, purchases, plans, health, any personal information.

If the child talks about this to strangers, he will endanger the family. This he must understand and remember well.

If the kid wants to tell the teacher or friends about something, he should ask your permission.

2. Little workouts

Periodically ask your child to keep something secret. For example, a gift for dad or grandparents. You need to keep the secret for at least a few hours, gradually this time can be increased.

Do not forget to also encourage your child, point out that you appreciate his ability to keep secrets, you can trust him, etc.

3. Personal example

If your social networks are full of photos of the child and stories about him, to which he did not consent, if you you spread everything that you can to your friends and relatives - then the baby perceives such behavior as normal.

Accordingly, it will behave the same way. And soon you will discover on social networks something that was not meant for them at all.

The same goes for gossip and talking about other people's secrets. Show your child that you yourself know how to be silent and not give him other people's secrets.

4. Non-childish themes

If the topic is not intended for children's ears, then it should be discussed in the absence of the baby. You will not then ask him what he understood from what was said and to whom he will pass this information.

And the child, however, may not realize that he will harm someone if he shares what he has heard with friends.

5. Dangerous secrets

Teach your child what secrets should never be kept: they relate to sexual, physical, emotional abuse.

Everything related to safety and life should not be kept secret from parents.

6. Heavy burden

Keeping secrets can be very difficult, even for adults. And the best prevention is not to take on this burden and deliberately not to learn other people's secrets.

Of course, children love secrets and cannot refuse if they are asked to tell something like that.

But a teenager may already well refuse to listen to information, which later will have to be concealed and silent.

You will also be interested to know:

• How to wean a child from swearing
• What to do if a child gets into bad company
• How to raise a child who won't lie to you