We have all been there, our kids are begging us for something, and we just can’t give it to them right then, so we say, ‘later,’ or ‘we’ll do that this weekend.’ Unfortunately, later and this weekend don’t always come, and then we are met with disappointment and frustration.
We want so badly to give our kids what they want, but we are human and sometimes, things happen. However, it’s important to not let this happen too often, or otherwise, you are breaking promise after promise. When you are consistently breaking promises to your kids, there are many negative implications.
Here are 8 reasons you should never break a promise to your kid.
1. You are teaching them to not trust you.
Our kids learn to trust us through our actions. If we are dependable and do what we say the majority of the time, then they can safely trust in us. However, if you are always making false promises, they are going to learn that you cannot be trusted.
2. You are setting them up for trust issues with everyone else, too.
Because kids learn how to trust others through us, if you are untrustworthy to them, they will feel like others are not to be trusted, either. Ultimately, this can be a struggle as they get older, because trust is fundamental to relationships.
3. They end up disappointed.
Sometimes, it’s inevitable that your kids will be disappointed in you. However, there are other times when their disappointment can be prevented. One simple way to prevent disappointment is to communicate whether something is possible right now. If you make plans, make sure you keep them. Of course, there will be times when you just cannot avoid it- but if you can avoid it, then please avoid it.
4. They will feel unimportant.
Our actions have a major impact on how our kids view themselves. When they feel like a priority, then they will feel as though they are important. Conversely, if you are always failing to follow through, they are going to end up feeling as though they simply aren’t important enough for you.
5. They learn disrespect.
Breaking promises is a form of disrespect, and our kids learn from our behavior. If you are consistently breaking promises, it’s likely your child will follow suit with similar behaviors.
6. There’s an opportunity to explain.
While there are some bad outcomes for breaking promises, a broken promise should always be explained. If you promised the park on Saturday, but there ended up being a storm, and you were called into work, explain that and then make sure that you make it up to them ASAP.
7. You should ask for forgiveness.
Also, this is a good opportunity to teach taking responsibility for your actions. We all make mistakes, and that is perfectly normal. Just make sure that when you do, you own up to it, so your kids learn to do the same.
8. Your children learn from your behavior.
Our kids watch us and learn from us. We can tell them to not break promises until we are blue in the face but at the end of the day, if you are always breaking promises, your kids will too. So, if you want your child to be a person of their word, make sure you are too.