We define truthfulness as a human quality. The truthful person is the one that always speaks, uses or professes the truth.

It is a value that must be formed very early in children and as any value, it can be worked on in all their activities, either at school or at home.

The Roman poet Horatio, referring to truthfulness, considered truthful what seems true according to the established standard by classic myths, which are the hierarchically expression of the social values. This statement of Horatio is valid regarding the fact that truthfulness is controlled by socially established norms and values, therefore, it is susceptible to education, and can be taught to our children.

Although we propose pedagogical activities with this objective, it is necessary that the teacher knows that it is not enough; that he must use all the opportunities available in daily life in the early childhood center, to teach the children to be truthful and to know that the truth helps us to live in peace with other people.

It is very interesting to encourage children to tell the truth in those situations that require it. We should be cautious of not confusing fantasy with the absence of truth and avoid the creation of situations that prevent the development of fantasy: that is a characteristic of the child’s mind. The work must start in those situations in which it is important to tell the truth. For this, the example of the adult plays a fundamental role. He should never lie to children, he should always give logical and real answers that favour the imitation and comprehension of the reason we must tell the truth.

For example, if the educator asks what the children did during the weekend, the important thing is that they tell what was really done, although, the story takes a little fantasy, since for them, fantasy and the real thing interrelate and complement each other. Everything a child says is very important, it should be heard and the child should not be scolded when expressing his fantasies: the child is learning to express thoughts.

There are situations that require the child to tell the truth, for example, when asked, who broke the toy? Or who won the competition? In these cases, we must be cautious when managing situations in which telling the truth may involve the disapproval of the adult.

This value can be worked through conversations, stories, narrations, adaptations, puppet shows, etc.

The results are achieved through patient and dedicated work, having always the care not to make demands above their possibilities. It must be remembered that some unimportant lies are normal in children behaviour, although, these should not be encouraged. To praise when children tell the truth is very useful, and parents should be orientated to keep a consistent attitude towards their children in this issue.

ACTIVITY No 1
"WHAT DOES A TRUTHFUL PERSON LOOK LIKE?"

Summary of the activity: The teacher will demonstrate using descriptions and explanations of what truth is; what a truthful person looks like; and, the results that come from it. The teacher will develop a puppet show about a character that is a liar. Later, he will ask them to answer the questions asked by one of the puppets. Moreover, in another part of the activity, the children will create their own stories; they will tell anecdotes of known people or of characters that behave truthfully.

Objectives: To develop some knowledge about truth in the child.

Procedures:
• Conversation
• Observation
• Adaptation
• Questions and answers
• Production

Material Resources: A puppet stage, a toy television set and four puppets that can be made of gloves, or rods, etc., eyeglasses and a magnifying glass.

Development of the activity:
1st Part
The teacher will describe people that tell the truth and liars. He will explain to the children that a truthful person is the one who always tells the truth and a liar is the one who always tells lies. The person that has occasionally lied in order not to hurt another, or could not tell the whole truth, should not be judged. However, we must always try to tell the truth, because when we are truthful we have better relationships and companionships and we live in peace.

The teacher will give examples of truthful people in the country or local history, also, people known by the children, that constitute true examples, who stood out for keeping a truthful attitude systematically. It will be explained to the children why we say they are truthful or practice the truth.

Also, he will give examples of people or characters of stories that are liars (for example Pinocchio) and the damage they do to themselves and to others with their lies; that a lie generally harms our relationships with others, that it is very embarrassing to be called a liar, and also it is very hurtful to have our friends disbelieve us.

He will emphasize that it is important to try telling the truth always and not only once, he will explain that it is necessary for living in peace, that people shouldn’t lie, that a lie hurts the establishment of good relationship among people.

Later, he will ask questions to verify if they have understood what was explained to them, for example:
What does the truthful person look like?
Do you know someone like this?
Why is it good to always tell the truth?
Why shouldn’t we lie? Etc.

2nd Part
There will be a puppet show about a liar. In the show there are four puppets: the puppet that narrates the story in certain moments, the one who will play the goblin on television, the one who will play Thomas, the child, and the one who will play Thomas’s mother. The teacher can be helped by other teachers or children to handle the puppets.

Before the show, the teacher will guide the children on the content of the work, and ask them to observe the positive and negative behaviours of these characters regarding truth and lie.

The show begins: “The Goblin on television”

The puppet narrating the story appears and says: -Once upon a time, there was a goblin who had the misson of discovering lies, he watched from a corner of the house, where the television was; he was always vigilant. The goblin was told that there was a child named Thomas who told lies to his mother, and he decided to see what was happening in that house.

(The puppet “Goblin on television” appears in the screen of a toy television set)

Thomas appears and says; - What a fright! I believe that at any moment that goblin will look at me, directly to my eyes to tell me that he knows all the bad things I have done today.

(Thomas in front of the television, looking at the television and moving as if he was afraid).

The narrator says: But the goblin, inside the television, pretended he didn’t see Thomas looking at him, and kept cleaning up his glasses and a big magnifying glass.

(The Goblin pretends he is cleaning his big glasses and a magnifying glass with a cloth).

Thomas: - It is good that he is entertained! Now I will eat all the cookies in the kitchen and nobody will tell mom when she arrives at home. So, I will blame a bad mouse.

Also, nobody will tell her about the broken dining room window, and I will act as if I didn't know.

(Thomas goes to eat cookies, hiding himself in a corner)

The narrator: - But, then, when he turned again his attention to the television, suddenly…. (The narrator points to the Goblin that is still in the television set).

The Goblin, shouts, with a terrible reprehending voice:- Thomas, behave yourself or...! (the puppet appears showing his finger to Thomas ).

The narrator:- Thomas could not believe it and got so scared that when his mom arrived, the first thing he did was…… (Points to Thomas’ mother).

Thomas’ mother appears and says: Good afternoon, son, how have you been behaving today?

Thomas: Mom, I have to tell you that I ate all the cookies and I broke the glass of the dining room window, I know that you…

(Thomas with intermittent voice of sorrow and grief)

The narrator:- He was expecting to be punished, but instead of that, it happened that…. (Points to Thomas’ mother )

Thomas’ mother: Son, you deserve a hug and a kiss. Not to congratulate you for the bad things you have done, because they aren’t right, but because I want to tell you that I am very happy of having a honest and courageous child, who dares to tell me the truth. You should do this always. (Thomas’ mother hugs and kisses him).

Narrating puppet: - ...and from that day on, Thomas was much better. He doesn't do more bad things, he doesn't lie anymore to his mother and the Goblin of the television doesn’t have to appear in Thomas’ television set.

3rd Part
After the performance, the narrator will ask the children:
Why do you think Thomas told lies?
Why is it good to tell the truth?
Is it correct to lie to your mom?
Do you always tell the truth?
Do you lie sometimes?

The teacher will wrap up the activity with a comment on the necessity of being truthful with everyone to keep friendly relationships that lead us to live in harmony with our family, neighbors, friends, etc. In addition, he will inform the children that the Goblin will be kept at school and he will be called “Goblin of the school”

4th Part
The children, based on what they learned in previous activities, in stories and in their own experiences, will create a story on: “The importance of always telling the truth” or “What do truthful people look like”, etc.

The children must create the story by themselves, but if they can’t, the teacher can help them by asking questions.

ACTIVITY No 2
"THE SCHOOL IS GOING TO PLAY"

Summary of the activity: This is a role play about school. It could be played by any child that wants to and they will perform tasks they do at school, such as: to discuss a subject, to answer the teacher’s questions, to draw, etc.

Objectives: Developing personal experience about truth in children.

Procedures:
• Game
• Conversation

Material Resources: A place for the game with all material needed for this game, such as, tables, chairs, blackboard, books and notebooks, pencil holders, felt-tip pens, paper for drawings, color pencils, etc.

Development of the activity:
1st Part
The teacher will hold an initial conversation to propose the topic, and he will show the play area to the children who want to be in it. Then he will ask them: who are you going to be in the game? In order to agree on the role everyone will play.

The players will select on their own the material they will use, according to the chosen role.

2nd Part
The game will start and the teacher will participate in the game as a child. From this secondary role, he will make a suggestion to the child playing the role of the teacher:

-Teacher, do you remember what we spoke about lies and truth? I believe that you as teacher should tell your group about what we have learned in previous activities on this subject. You can ask your children and they can answer what they think. They can also report on the truthful people or liars they know, family members or friends, or on characters of stories.

The teacher, in his role as student can make some interventions, but he will let the children express themselves freely. He will only intervene if necessary. For example, if the game stops, if the children stray away from the argument, or to help solve conflicts, to keep and enrich this student-teacher conversation with his comments.

3rd Part
The child that plays the teacher will invite his pupils to make beautiful drawings for their peers, friends, family members, or neighbours, whoever they select as a truthful person and afterwards the children will say to whom they are going to give it and why they have selected that person. The teacher will try with his interventions to help the children in order to describe a basic characteristic of the selected person and to highlight the values of this person, especially the truth. The teacher will try to make this a touching moment for the children.

4th Part
To wrap up the game, there will be a final conversation to evaluate how the children, helped by the teacher, played. If they played their role until the end, if they have acted according to their role, for example, if the teacher has stayed, the whole time, in the argument of the game and if he has fulfilled well his function as teacher; also, if there was any conflict and how it was solved.

He will end by encouraging the students in the game that have carried out a good story about truthful people and liars.