But most parents I know also consider the truth to be an important value. They know that people who are honest inspire trust and confidence in others. Create a truthful environment. The best way to teach honesty is to set a good example. Children will not respect the truth if they see that there are times when you are deliberately deceitful.
Many adults feel it is acceptable to tell white lies when situations warrant it.
But they don't always see the negative impact that even a fib can have on children. A man I know still remembers how he cringed when his father secured a cheaper bus ticket for him by telling the driver that he was five when he was really six. These adults found it easier to justify lying when they were kids by thinking of their own parents' examples. As kids, they couldn't differentiate between degrees of dishonesty. Don't overreact to small lies.