Kids of all ages and most abilities can learn about loyalty while growing up and becoming adults. It is a social skill that breeds trust: people trusting that you will follow through on your word.

Loyalty is a skill that takes practice. An example is being a loyal friend over a period of time. Loyalty develops when tests come that could break a friendship apart and you still remain at that person's side, their steady unconditional friend.

While growing up kids face situations at school and while playing that can test their loyalty to friends. When bickering or bullying starts it is the loyal friend who comes to the victim's side for help and support. The loyal friend is the one who stays around until the situation is resolved.

As kids start joining teams it is loyalty to the set goals that contributes to team spirit. It is members knit together in one big mindset that makes for a concerted effort for the whole. That is a show of loyalty.

Loyalty to family and team mates grows into loyalty to employers in the workplace as adults. It is a case of what begins in childhood finds fruition later in life. Being loyal to the company is so important and one of the qualities an employer will cherish. To be able to trust that an employee will think of the company's best interests and not act wrongfully is a sign of loyalty.

Think how important it is for the police force to loyally work together when faced with controlling a dangerous situation. Another similar example is the fire fighting crews, each member coming together on one mission and working in support of their fellow firefighters for safety and to get the job done.

These models show how important it is to develop a working knowledge and practice of loyalty while growing up.

As parents, teachers, friends, adults we need to be models of loyalty to the kids in our community and encourage positive behavior. After all, what we ourselves show to the kids is what they copy, more than what we tell them to do.

I consider learning how to practice loyalty a very important social skill. Let's be good examples for the kids!

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Article by Susan Kramer